Ink-jet Printer Controller Optimizes Drive Voltage for Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printers face challenges in reducing First Print Out Time (FPOT) while maintaining image recording quality, as the amount of ink discharged during the flushing process affects both the duration and quality of the preparation process.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet printer configuration that includes a conveyor, recording head, power supply, ink receiver, and controller to determine and adjust the ink amount and drive voltage for efficient ink discharge, ensuring the ink required for quality is discharged while minimizing the execution time of the flushing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the amount of ink discharged in the flushing process is increased to maintain image recording quality, then the image recording quality is improved, but the preparation process takes a longer time, worsening the First Print Out Time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the drive voltage adjustable rather than fixed. The power supply can raise the drive voltage to a determined voltage value during the flushing process, enabling the system to dynamically adapt the ink discharge rate to match the required ink amount, thus resolving the contradiction between discharge quantity and process time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of drive voltage to control the ink discharge rate. By raising the drive voltage to a determined voltage value based on the required ink amount, the system can discharge ink at different rates, allowing sufficient ink discharge for quality maintenance while minimizing the flushing process time to reduce First Print Out Time
2Productivity
If the drive voltage is raised to increase ink discharge rate, then the execution time of flushing process is reduced, but the drive voltage has an upper limit that constrains further time reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the drive voltage to a determined voltage value based on the required ink amount, enabling flexible control of the ink discharge rate. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to operate at optimal voltage levels without exceeding upper limits, balancing productivity gains with device complexity constraints
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
The solution effectively reduces FPOT by optimizing ink discharge based on threshold values, ensuring reliable ink delivery for image recording quality without lengthening the flushing process execution time.
Implementation Method 1
a power supply configured to supply a drive voltage to the recording head; raising the drive voltage of the power supply to the determined voltage value
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet printer includes a conveyor, a recording head, a power supply, an ink receiver, a command receiver, and a controller. The controller executes: determining an ink amount to be discharged; determining a voltage value of a drive voltage and the number of ink droplets; raising the drive voltage; executing a flushing process, executing a printing process. The controller determines the voltage value such that the drive voltage becomes higher when the determined ink amount is not less than a first threshold value than when the determined ink amount is less than the first threshold value, and determines the number of ink droplets such that the number of ink droplets becomes larger when the determined ink amount is not less than a second threshold value than when the determined ink amount is less than the second threshold value.