Inkjet Head Vibration Control via Dynamic Nozzle Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing machines face productivity limitations due to residual vibration after moving the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction, leading to landing misalignment of ink drops and degradation in printing quality, especially with increased weight and number of nozzles.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing machine with a controller that detects the maximum amplitude of vibration and adjusts the number of nozzles and ink drop quantity based on displacement, allowing for selective nozzle use and dynamic ink drop adjustment to mitigate vibration-induced misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the inkjet head unit is moved in the sub-scanning direction, then the printing position is updated for the next pitch width, but residual vibration causes landing misalignment of ink drops and degradation in printing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement detector detects displacement of the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction before ink drops are discharged, and the controller determines which nozzles to use based on this detected displacement. This preliminary detection and adjustment of nozzle selection compensates for vibration-induced position deviations, ensuring accurate landing alignment even during continuous operation without stopping for vibration convergence.
Solution Approach 2:
The displacement detector continuously monitors the actual position of the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction, and this feedback information is used by the controller to dynamically select appropriate nozzles for discharging ink drops. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that printing quality is maintained despite residual vibration from sub-scanning movements.
2Productivity
If the number of inkjet heads and nozzles is increased to improve productivity, then the amount of printing per unit time increases, but the weight of the inkjet head unit increases and vibration convergence time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of inkjet head displacement in the sub-scanning direction before each printing operation. Based on this detected displacement, the controller determines the appropriate nozzles to use, allowing printing to proceed without waiting for vibration to fully converge. This eliminates the time loss associated with waiting for vibration convergence while maintaining printing quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The inkjet printing machine operates continuously without stopping to wait for vibration convergence. The displacement detector and controller work together to maintain accurate printing throughout continuous operation, ensuring that the increased number of inkjet heads and nozzles can operate at full capacity without idle time for vibration damping.
3Productivity
If printing is performed immediately after sub-scanning movement without waiting for vibration convergence, then productivity improves, but landing misalignment occurs and printing quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The displacement detector provides real-time feedback on the position of the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction, and the controller uses this feedback to dynamically select which nozzles should discharge ink drops. This feedback-based nozzle selection ensures that even when printing continues without waiting for vibration convergence, the ink drops are discharged from nozzles that will achieve accurate landing alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by selecting different nozzles based on the detected displacement of the inkjet head. Instead of maintaining a fixed nozzle selection, the controller dynamically adjusts which nozzles are active depending on the real-time position feedback, allowing high-speed continuous operation while maintaining printing quality through parameter adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller determines the amount of driving by a sub-scanning driver and the number of nozzles to be used in accordance with a maximum amplitude of vibration of an inkjet head in a sub-scanning direction, where the maximum amplitude is detected by a displacement detecting sensor when the inkjet head is moved in the sub-scanning direction before starting printing. Then, while moving the inkjet head in a main-scanning direction, the controller performs printing by selecting nozzles to be used in accordance with displacement of the inkjet head in the sub-scanning direction detected by the displacement detecting sensor.