Inkjet Printer Shuttle Multi-Stage Brake Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers experience decreased print quality due to shuttle vibration during sub-scanning movement, which is currently addressed by waiting for vibrations to stop, thereby increasing production time and reducing productivity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-stage brake control system in the inkjet printer, where the controller alternately repeats ink ejection and shuttle movement operations, applying brakes in a manner that the inertia force opposes the vibration direction to quickly converge shuttle vibrations, thus reducing downtime between print operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a waiting time is provided for vibration to stop after shuttle movement, then print quality is maintained, but productivity decreases due to increased idle time
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control is applied in advance during the shuttle movement operation, specifically in the second stage and subsequent stages of multi-stage brake control, to proactively counteract vibration before the next print operation begins. This eliminates the need for idle waiting time while ensuring vibration has stopped by the time printing resumes.
Solution Approach 2:
The inertia force generated during brake control, which could potentially cause additional vibration, is instead utilized beneficially by timing the brake application so that the inertia force direction opposes the vibration direction. This converts a potentially harmful effect into a beneficial one that accelerates vibration convergence.
2Productivity
If multi-stage brake control is implemented to reduce vibration convergence time, then productivity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control is divided into multiple stages corresponding to different phases of shuttle movement. The first stage operates during initial movement, the second stage operates when vibration occurs, and subsequent stages operate during deceleration. This segmentation allows each stage to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller determines the timing of brake control in the second stage and subsequent stages based on the vibration state of the shuttle. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adaptively adjust brake application timing to counteract vibration effectively while maintaining simple control logic that can be implemented through standard controller programming.
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
This approach reduces the time required for vibration convergence, allowing for faster transition between print operations and maintaining print quality without productivity losses.
Implementation Method 1
vibration occurs in the shuttle when the shuttle is moved in the sub-scanning direction
Implementation Method 2
apply brake to the shuttle at such a timing that a direction of vibration of the shuttle and a direction of force of inertia of the shuttle in braking of the shuttle are opposite to each other
Data Source
AI summary
A controller forms an image on a print medium by alternately repeating: a first operation of driving an inkjet head to eject ink from the inkjet head to the print medium while driving a main scanning driver to move the inkjet head in a main scanning direction; and a second operation of driving a sub-scanning driver to move a shuttle in the sub-scanning direction. The controller performs a multi-stage brake control to stop the shuttle in the second operation, and in a second stage and a stage after the second stage of the multi-stage brake control, apply brake to the shuttle at such a timing that a direction of vibration of the shuttle and a direction of force of inertia of the shuttle in braking of the shuttle are opposite to each other.