Inkjet Print Head Cleaning Unit with Selective Cleaner Levels
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Solution Overview
Problem
The repeated cleaning of nozzle plates in inkjet printing devices, particularly the mechanical wiping, can negatively affect the sensitive functional surfaces, leading to reduced print quality and shortened lifespan, while insufficient cleaning results in subpar print quality.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning unit with multiple cleaners, including a low-loading cleaner for gentle cleaning and a high-loading cleaner for thorough cleaning, controlled by a controller that determines a cleaning indicator to select the appropriate cleaning method based on print quality and operational conditions, ensuring a balance between print quality and nozzle plate longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If repeated mechanical wiping cleaning is performed on the nozzle plate, then cleaning quality is improved, but the functional surface is damaged and lifespan is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning unit is divided into multiple independent cleaners (first cleaner, second cleaner, third cleaner) with different cleaning mechanisms. This segmentation allows selective application of different cleaning intensities based on actual needs, avoiding unnecessary mechanical stress on the nozzle plate while maintaining cleaning quality when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the cleaning parameters by switching between different cleaning methods (wiping, ultrasonic, gas jet) based on the cleaning indicator. This parameter change allows the system to apply strong cleaning only when necessary, thereby protecting the functional surface during normal operation while maintaining cleaning effectiveness when needed.
2Reliability
If frequent cleaning is performed to maintain print quality, then print quality is maintained, but mechanical stress on nozzle plate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller determines a cleaning indicator based on monitoring print quality and operational conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to assess whether cleaning is actually needed before initiating cleaning operations, thereby maintaining print quality while avoiding unnecessary mechanical stress from frequent cleaning cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing full mechanical wiping cleaning frequently, the system applies partial cleaning actions using gentler methods (gas jet, ultrasonic) only when and where needed. This partial action approach maintains sufficient print quality while significantly reducing cumulative mechanical stress on the nozzle plate.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If gentle cleaning methods are used to protect the functional surface, then nozzle plate lifespan is extended, but cleaning quality may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system dynamically adapts its method and intensity based on real-time conditions. The controller selects between gentle methods (for routine maintenance and lifespan extension) and stronger methods (for thorough cleaning when needed), making the cleaning approach dynamic rather than static. This ensures both lifespan extension through gentle routine cleaning and adequate cleaning quality when stronger methods are applied.
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning unit for cleaning the nozzle plate of a print head of an inkjet printing device having cleaners with respective different levels of cleaning quality and respective different strengths of loading of the nozzle plate. The different cleaners for cleaning the nozzle plate are selected depending on a cleaning indicator in order to achieve an improved compromise between print quality and service life of the print head.