Ink-jet Printer Sedimentation Control Purge
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printers using pigment ink often experience jetting failures due to sedimentation of pigment at the bottom of the tank, leading to increased viscosity and localized concentration, which prevents proper ink introduction to the head during initial purge.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet printer with a controller that assesses sedimentation levels and performs either a standard or enhanced purge operation based on sedimentation amount, ensuring effective ink introduction by adjusting suction pressure and duration to prevent jetting failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If pigment ink is used to improve image clarity, then printed image quality is improved, but pigment sediments in the tank over time causing jetting failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of pigment sedimentation before initial printing and executes preliminary purge operations to remove settled pigment, preventing jetting failure before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The system assesses sedimentation information regarding pigment concentration in the tank and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate purge operation, adapting the initial purge strategy based on actual sedimentation conditions
2Ease of operation
If a standard initial purge is performed to introduce ink to the head, then ink introduction is achieved, but pigment sedimentation prevents proper introduction causing jetting failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the initial purge operation based on sedimentation assessment, selecting between a standard purge for low sedimentation and an enhanced purge with increased suction pressure and duration for high sedimentation conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes purge parameters including suction pressure and operation duration based on sedimentation levels, using higher suction pressure and longer duration when pigment sedimentation is detected
3Reliability
If an enhanced purge operation is performed to handle sedimented pigment, then jetting reliability is improved, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts purge parameters based on sedimentation levels, using higher suction pressure and longer duration only when necessary, thereby minimizing ink consumption while ensuring reliable jetting when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system assesses sedimentation information and uses this feedback to determine the appropriate purge operation, avoiding unnecessary enhanced purge operations and associated ink consumption when sedimentation is not present
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 suppresses jetting failures by ensuring proper ink introduction to the head, even with high sedimentation levels, while minimizing ink consumption when sedimentation is low.
Implementation Method 1
an initial purge for sucking an ink inside an ink cartridge from nozzles of the ink-jet head is executed
Implementation Method 2
the pigment sediments (settles) in a bottom portion of the tank
Implementation Method 3
the pigment sediments (settles) in a bottom portion of the tank
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink-jet printer including: a tank storing a pigment ink; a head; a purge mechanism; and a controller controlling the head and the purge mechanism. The controller executes: obtaining sedimentation information regarding a sedimentation amount of a pigment inside the tank, and judging whether or not the sedimentation amount of the pigment inside the tank is not less than a predetermined amount, based on the obtained sedimentation information. Further, the controller executes a first purge operation as an initial introduction purge processing for initially introducing the pigment ink from the tank to the head. Furthermore, the controller executes, as the initial introduction purge processing, a second purge processing capable of jetting, from the nozzles, the pigment ink in a larger amount than that in the first purge processing, in a case that the controller judges that the sedimentation amount is not less than the predetermined amount.