Inkjet Print Head Recovery via Suction Wiper and Dust Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing apparatuses struggle to maintain image quality due to dust attachment, such as paper dust, on the print head's ejection ports, as existing recovery methods based on fixed time conditions are insufficient in environments where dust easily adheres.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a recovery unit that performs recovery operations based on the number of times a cut part of the print medium passes the printing position, using a suction wiper unit to remove dust from the print head's ejection ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If recovery operation is performed based on fixed time conditions, then ink ejection quality is maintained, but dust attachment problem cannot be solved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the recovery operation timing from fixed time-based to dynamic counting-based on the number of times the print head passes through the printing position. This allows the system to adapt to varying dust attachment conditions while maintaining ink ejection quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the cutter to count how many times the cut print medium passes through the printing position, and adjusts the recovery operation timing based on this feedback. This feedback mechanism enables the system to respond to actual dust accumulation conditions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If recovery operation is performed frequently to remove dust, then dust attachment is reduced, but excessive recovery operation burdens the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for determining recovery operation timing from fixed time intervals to a count-based parameter (number of times the cut print medium passes through the printing position). This allows optimization of recovery frequency based on actual dust accumulation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary counting of the passing number before each recovery operation to determine whether the recovery operation should be executed. This preliminary action prevents unnecessary recovery operations while ensuring timely dust removal.
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 influence of dust on ink ejection, maintaining high-quality printed images by adapting the recovery timing to the level of dust adherence, thereby preventing clogging and ensuring accurate ink landing.
Implementation Method 1
using a suction wiper unit to remove dust from the print head's ejection ports
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printing apparatus and a print head recovery method are provided according to which, in an environment in which dust (e.g., paper dust) is easily attached to the periphery of an ejection port of a print head, the print head is subjected to a recovery operation depending on the level of the attached dust. The inkjet printing apparatus has a cutter unit for cutting a print medium and a recovery unit for performing the recovery operation by wiping the ejection port formation portion at which the ejection port is formed of the print head while sucking the ejection port formation portion. When the passing number showing how many times the cut part of the print medium cut by the cutter passes the printing position is equal to or higher than a threshold value, the recovery means subjects the print head to the recovery operation.