Inkjet Wiper Cleaner Orthogonal Cleaning Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet printing apparatuses require frequent maintenance to prevent cleaning unevenness caused by ink droplets adhering to wiper blades, leading to irregular wiping and reduced apparatus availability.
Innovation Solution
An inkjet printing apparatus with a wiper cleaner unit that synchronizes with the cap unit's movement to the capping position, using a wiper-off part to orthogonally wipe the wiper blades, thereby preventing ink droplet accumulation and reducing maintenance frequency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If wiper blades are used to wipe off the discharge surface of the printing head, then cleaning of the printing head is achieved, but ink droplets accumulate on the wiper blades causing cleaning unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
A wiper-off part is introduced as an intermediary component to clean the wiper blades. This mediator transfers the cleaning function from manual intervention to an automated mechanical system, removing ink droplets from wiper blades during the capping operation to prevent accumulation and maintain consistent wiping performance
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper-off part performs preliminary cleaning of the wiper blades before they are reused for wiping the printing head. By cleaning the wiper blades in advance during the cap unit's movement to the capping position, the system prevents ink droplet accumulation that would otherwise cause cleaning unevenness
2Manufacturing precision
If wiper blades are cleaned manually every few days, then cleaning unevenness is prevented, but maintenance time and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blades perform self-cleaning through the wiper-off part during the normal operation cycle. The cap unit's movement to the capping position automatically activates the wiper-off part to clean the wiper blades, eliminating the need for external manual intervention and freeing up maintenance time
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning action is made continuous by integrating it into the regular operation cycle. The wiper-off part cleans the wiper blades during every movement of the cap unit to the capping position, ensuring continuous maintenance of cleaning uniformity without periodic interruptions for manual maintenance
3Manufacturing precision
If a wiper cleaner unit is added to clean wiper blades, then cleaning unevenness is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap unit is given multi-functionality by integrating the wiper-off part into its structure. The same cap unit that performs the function of closing the discharge surface now also serves to clean the wiper blades through the integrated wiper-off part, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated cleaning device
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper-off part is merged with the cap unit structure, combining the capping function and wiper cleaning function into a single integrated system. This merging reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall apparatus structure while maintaining cleaning uniformity
Data Source
AI summary
A wiper cleaner unit moves a wiper-off part to a capping position orthogonally relative to a direction in which inkjet heads are disposed in synchronization with movement of a cap holder, thereby wiping off wiper blades in a standby position orthogonally relative to the direction in which the inkjet heads are disposed. This allows the wiper-off part to clean the wiper blades off ink droplets. Consequently, cleaning unevenness of a print unit due to the wiper blades is avoidable.