Inkjet Recording Apparatus Viscosity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining uniform print quality across multiple recording mediums due to increased viscosity of ink in ejection ports, leading to potential ejection failures and wasteful consumption of recording mediums during flushing processes.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a conveyance mechanism, liquid ejection head, and controller system that allocates ink droplet amounts based on print resolution and record count, forming image dots and flushing dots strategically to prevent viscosity increase without wasting recording mediums, using a storage system for drive data and flushing patterns to manage ink ejection effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flushing dots are formed on recording mediums to prevent viscosity increase in ejection ports, then ink ejection reliability is improved, but print quality of recording mediums deteriorates due to unwanted flushing dots
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary flushing action before the viscosity of ink in ejection ports increases to problematic levels. By detecting the number of recording mediums printed and comparing it to a predetermined threshold, the system proactively ejects ink droplets through all nozzles before viscosity degradation occurs, preventing ejection failures while minimizing impact on print quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the flushing operation based on the actual printing state. The controller modifies the ejection pattern to match the current number of recording mediums printed, optimizing the balance between preventing viscosity increase and maintaining print quality. This dynamic adjustment ensures flushing is performed only when necessary rather than on every recording medium.
2Reliability
If flushing operations are performed frequently to maintain ink flow, then ejection failures are prevented, but consumption of recording mediums increases due to wasteful flushing
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by monitoring the number of recording mediums on which images have been printed and using this information to determine when flushing operations are necessary. The controller compares the current print count against stored thresholds to decide whether to perform flushing, ensuring operations are conducted only when viscosity increase becomes a risk, thereby minimizing wasteful consumption of recording mediums.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the inkjet head based on the printing state. By adjusting the ejection pattern from normal image printing to flushing mode (ejecting ink to form dots in non-image areas) based on the number of recording mediums printed, the system optimizes ink flow maintenance while reducing unnecessary flushing operations that would waste recording mediums.
3Stability of the object's composition
If ink droplets are ejected continuously to maintain flow, then viscosity increase is prevented, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous ink ejection, the system employs periodic flushing actions based on the number of recording mediums printed. The controller initiates flushing operations at specific intervals determined by comparing the current print count to predetermined thresholds, maintaining ink viscosity stability through periodic rather than continuous ink flow, thereby reducing overall ink consumption while preventing viscosity increase.
Data Source
AI summary
A conveyance unit continually conveys sheets of the number of continual prints. A head control section controls ejection of ink droplets from inkjet heads in such a way that there are produced image dots which make up an image to be printed on each of the sheet every time the sheet is conveyed and flushing dots corresponding to flushing dot candidates, among flushing dot candidates for flushing patterns included in a flushing pattern group determined from the continual print count, which are placed at locations where the image dots are not to be produced.