Inkjet Recording Apparatus Ink Collection Tray V-Groove Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face issues with ink drying and solidification on the ink collection tray, leading to reduced fluidity, clogging of the ink discharge flow passage, and soiling of the recording medium.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates an ink collection tray with a waste ink catching portion featuring multiple V-shaped grooves and a waste ink discharge portion, along with a cleaning liquid feeding mechanism to efficiently flush off ink that has fallen into the tray.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink is collected in the ink collection tray without cleaning mechanism, then ink collection is simple, but ink dries and solidifies causing clogging and soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The ink collection tray performs self-cleaning by using its own structure (downward slope and V-shaped grooves) to facilitate ink flow and discharge, eliminating the need for external cleaning mechanisms while preventing ink solidification and clogging
Solution Approach 2:
The downward slope design utilizes gravity-driven hydraulic flow to move collected ink from the catching portion to the discharge portion, ensuring continuous ink removal without mechanical intervention
2Ease of operation
If ink is wiped off with a wiper, then recording head recovery is achieved, but ink drops on the collection tray and causes soiling
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped grooves extract and concentrate ink droplets from the wide catching surface into defined flow paths, directing them efficiently to the discharge portion and preventing random accumulation and soiling
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ink collection tray have different functions: the catching portion collects ink broadly, the grooves channel and concentrate flow, and the discharge portion expels ink - each area optimized for its specific role in preventing soiling
3Ease of manufacture
If the ink collection tray has a flat surface, then manufacturing is simple, but ink accumulates and dries causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The V-shaped grooves introduce controlled curvature and directional flow paths into the tray surface, guiding ink toward the discharge portion and preventing accumulation that would lead to drying and clogging, while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
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 configuration allows for effective removal of ink from the ink collection tray using a cleaning liquid, preventing ink drying and clogging, and maintaining the apparatus's operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The ink collection tray has a downward slope from the waste ink catching portion toward the waste ink discharge portion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus (100) includes an ink collection tray (50) and a cleaning liquid feeding mechanism (61). When recovery operation for a recording head (17a to 17c) that ejects ink onto a recording medium is performed, the ink collection tray (50) is disposed opposite the recording head (17a to 17c) to collect ink pushed out onto the ink ejection surface (F1) of the recording head (17a to 17c). The cleaning liquid feeding mechanism (61) feeds a cleaning liquid for flushing off the ink onto the ink collection tray (50). The ink collection tray (50) has a waste ink catching portion (53) disposed opposite the ink ejection surface (F1) and a waste ink discharge portion (54) disposed adjacent to the waste ink catching portion (53), and has a downward slope from the waste ink catching portion (53) toward the waste ink discharge portion (54). The waste ink catching portion (53) has formed in it a plurality of grooves (53a to 53d) with a V-shaped cross section extending along the downward slope.