Inkjet Printhead Cap and Humidifier for Nozzle Clogging Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printheads often clog when unused for extended periods, with certain colors being more susceptible to clogging due to faster drying, leading to reduced ink ejection or nozzle blockage, which existing purge and cleaning cycles cannot completely prevent.
Innovation Solution
A cap and humidifier system that creates a sealed space around the printheads, supplying a mist to maintain humidity and prevent ink drying, combined with a moisture sensor to regulate mist levels and a flexible blade for applying and removing cleaning fluid to keep nozzles clear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If purge and cleaning cycles are used to mitigate nozzle clogging, then some clogging issues are reduced, but nozzle clogging cannot be completely avoided and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining a protective liquid environment in the nozzles before clogging occurs. The liquid delivery system continuously supplies liquid to the nozzles during idle periods, preventing ink from drying and clogging the nozzles in the first place, rather than waiting for clogging to occur and then performing purge cycles to clear it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by maintaining continuous liquid supply to the nozzles during idle periods. The liquid delivery system operates continuously or periodically to ensure the nozzles remain wetted with protective liquid, eliminating the intermittent stop-start nature of traditional purge cycles and maintaining constant protection against clogging.
2Reliability
If cleaning fluid is applied to nozzles to prevent ink drying, then ink drying is prevented, but excess liquid needs to be removed to avoid waste and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a blade that selectively removes excess liquid only from specific areas. The blade is positioned to contact only the nozzle surfaces where liquid accumulation occurs, removing excess cleaning fluid and dried ink residue from the nozzles while leaving the protective liquid environment intact in the liquid delivery system and surrounding areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through a sensor system that detects the presence and amount of liquid on the nozzles. The sensor provides real-time information about liquid accumulation, and this feedback controls the blade operation to remove excess liquid only when needed, optimizing the balance between preventing clogging and minimizing liquid waste.
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
Effectively prevents ink drying and removes dried ink from nozzles, maintaining nozzle functionality and reducing clogging issues, while also optimizing fluid usage and extending the life of the cleaning solution.
Implementation Method 1
a humidifier connected to the cap and adapted to supply a mist to the sealed space
Implementation Method 2
the cap can include a drain adapted to remove condensation of the mist from the sealed space
Implementation Method 3
the humidifier can be an atomizer adapted to form fine droplets of the mist in the sealed space
Implementation Method 4
The flexible blade is adapted to fold over to spread a liquid solution on the nozzles in a first direction, and the flexible blade is adapted to remove excess amounts of the liquid solution from the nozzles in a second direction
Data Source
AI summary
A cap is positioned to contact a printhead when the printhead is not ejecting liquid ink. The cap and the printhead create a sealed space adjacent printhead nozzles when contacting each other. A flexible blade is positioned to contact the printhead when the printhead is not in contact with the cap. The flexible blade is adapted to fold over to spread a liquid solution on the nozzles in a first direction, and the flexible blade is adapted to remove excess amounts of the liquid solution from the nozzles in a second direction. A humidifier is connected to the cap and adapted to supply a moisture form of the liquid solution to the sealed space. A moisture sensor is connected to the cap. The humidifier is adapted to vary supply of the moisture to the sealed space based on the amount of moisture detected by the moisture sensor.