Inkjet Circulation Pump Control for Bubble Removal and Anti-Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high flow resistance and clogging of circulation channels in small-sized inkjet printing heads due to increased pump driving frequency, which leads to inadequate negative pressure for bubble removal and impaired liquid circulation.
Innovation Solution
A control method that adjusts the number of pump driving times based on operational states, driving the pump at a higher frequency during printing and a lower frequency when bubbles are present to maintain effective liquid circulation and prevent clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the pump is driven at a high frequency to increase flow velocity and prevent channel clogging, then liquid circulation is improved, but the negative pressure generated per pump cycle decreases, impairing bubble removal capability
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic cycles alternating between a first operation mode (high frequency for liquid circulation) and a second operation mode (low frequency for bubble removal). This periodic switching allows the system to achieve both high flow velocity for preventing clogging and sufficient negative pressure for bubble removal at different time intervals, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Productivity
If the pump is driven at a high frequency to maintain liquid circulation, then circulation efficiency is improved, but channel clogging increases due to insufficient negative pressure for bubble removal
Solution Approach 1:
The system periodically switches between high-frequency operation (for circulation efficiency) and low-frequency operation (for bubble removal to prevent clogging). This periodic action ensures that while circulation efficiency is maintained during high-frequency phases, bubble accumulation is prevented during low-frequency phases, thereby avoiding channel clogging.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump performs preliminary bubble removal at low frequency before switching to high-frequency circulation mode. This preliminary action eliminates bubbles that would otherwise accumulate and cause clogging during subsequent high-frequency operation, preventing the harmful effect before it occurs.
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
Enhances ink circulation efficiency by minimizing bubble interference and preventing channel clogging, ensuring stable printing operations.
Implementation Method 1
increasing the number of times the pump is driven per unit time decreases the negative pressure to be generated by driving the pump once
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a circulation channel; a circulating pump configured to circulate a liquid in the circulation channel; and a control unit configured to perform control that drives the circulating pump at a first number of times of driving in a case of performing a printing operation in which the liquid is ejected onto a printing medium, and drives the circulating pump at a second number of times of driving smaller than the first number of times of driving in a predetermined case which is before performing the printing operation.