Inkjet Waste Liquid Recirculation to Prevent Stagnation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waste liquids generated during maintenance processing of inkjet recording apparatus head units tend to dry and thicken, leading to decreased fluidity and stagnation in the waste liquid flow path, which hinders effective collection.
Innovation Solution
A waste liquid collection apparatus comprising a waste liquid tray with an inclined surface, a collection tank, a collection pump, and a circulation pump that recirculates waste liquids to maintain fluidity and prevent stagnation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If waste liquid is collected in a waste liquid tank, then waste liquid collection is achieved, but waste liquid dries and thickens causing stagnation in the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump continuously circulates waste liquid from the waste liquid tank back to the waste liquid receiving surface, maintaining continuous motion of the waste liquid. This continuous circulation prevents the waste liquid from drying and thickening, thereby eliminating stagnation and adhesion problems while ensuring reliable waste liquid collection
2Productivity
If waste liquid flows through waste liquid flow path, then waste liquid is transported, but waste liquid decreases in fluidity and adheres in aggregated state
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump periodically draws waste liquid from the tank and returns it to the receiving surface, creating periodic circulation cycles. This periodic action maintains waste liquid fluidity by repeatedly moving it through the system, preventing aggregation and adhesion while ensuring efficient transport
3Stability of the object's composition
If circulation pump returns waste liquid to waste liquid receiving surface, then waste liquid fluidity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump integrates the functions of waste liquid withdrawal, storage, and return into a single circulation loop system. By combining these functions into one unified circulation mechanism, the system maintains waste liquid fluidity without requiring multiple separate devices, thus minimizing overall system complexity
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 apparatus ensures effective collection and recirculation of waste liquids, preventing them from drying and adhering, thus maintaining fluidity and ensuring proper collection.
Implementation Method 1
a waste liquid receiving surface inclined downward to receive the waste liquid discharged from the head unit and allow the waste liquid to flow from an upper end to a lower end of the waste liquid receiving surface
Implementation Method 2
The circulation pump returns another part of the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge part to the upper end of the waste liquid receiving surface to circulate the other part of the waste liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A waste liquid collection apparatus includes a waste liquid tray, a collection tank, a collection pump, and a circulation pump. The waste liquid tray includes a waste liquid receiving surface inclined downward to receive a waste liquid discharged from a head unit and allow the waste liquid to flow from an upper end to a lower end of the waste liquid receiving surface, and a waste liquid discharge part that is disposed adjacent to the lower end of the waste liquid receiving surface to discharge the waste liquid. The collection pump feeds a part of the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge part to the collection tank. The circulation pump returns another part of the waste liquid discharged from the waste liquid discharge part to the upper end of the waste liquid receiving surface to circulate the other part of the waste liquid.