Inkjet Reservoir Recirculation via Extraction and Supply Pump Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet-printing devices face issues with ink settlement and recirculation due to extended periods of inactivity, leading to suboptimal performance and potential pump damage when relying solely on the extraction pump for recirculation, as the supply pump lacks an encoder for precise power control.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the extraction pump is set to a specified rotational velocity, with its power increased until equilibrium is achieved, and the supply pump is gradually powered up to assist in recirculation, allowing both pumps to operate in unison and maintain optimal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the extraction pump is used alone to recirculate ink within the reservoir, then the recirculation function is achieved, but the pump operates at high backpressure and consumes excessive power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the extraction pump and supply pump to work together in recirculating ink within the reservoir. The extraction pump draws ink from the reservoir while the supply pump simultaneously pushes ink back into the reservoir, creating a coordinated recirculation system that reduces backpressure on the extraction pump compared to operating alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply pump acts as an intermediary that assists the extraction pump during recirculation operations. By having the supply pump push ink back into the reservoir while the extraction pump draws it out, the system creates a balanced flow that reduces the backpressure burden on the extraction pump.
2Speed
If the extraction pump operates at high rotational velocity to recirculate ink, then recirculation speed is improved, but the pump encounters high backpressure reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction pump and supply pump operate simultaneously to recirculate ink. The supply pump pushes ink into the reservoir while the extraction pump draws it out, creating a coordinated system that maintains recirculation speed while reducing backpressure on the extraction pump through balanced flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous recirculation by having both pumps operate simultaneously in opposite directions. The supply pump continuously pushes ink into the reservoir while the extraction pump continuously draws it out, ensuring uninterrupted recirculation flow that reduces backpressure compared to single-pump operation.
3Reliability
If the supply pump is powered up gradually to assist recirculation, then pump equilibrium is achieved, but the control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the operational state of both pumps and adjusts their power output accordingly. When the supply pump is activated to assist recirculation, the controller uses feedback to balance the operational parameters of both pumps, ensuring they work in equilibrium without requiring complex manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the power output of both pumps based on real-time operational conditions. The controller can modulate the power to the supply pump and extraction pump independently, allowing the system to adapt to varying recirculation requirements while maintaining pump equilibrium through dynamic control rather than fixed settings.
Data Source
AI summary
An extraction pump of a printing device fluidically connected to a reservoir of the printing device is set to a specified rotational velocity. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) value of the extraction pump correspondingly increases until the extraction pump rotates at the specified rotational velocity. While the power of the extraction pump is monitored, a power of a supply pump of the printing device fluidically connected between the extraction pump and the reservoir is continually increased; the power of the extraction pump correspondingly decreases to maintain rotation of the extraction pump at the specified rotational velocity. Responsive to the power of the extraction pump decreasing to a characterized value for the specified rotational velocity, the power of the supply pump ceases being increased.