Ink-jet Printer Wiper Assembly Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink jet print heads suffer from performance degradation due to dust, excess ink, and debris accumulation, requiring effective cleaning methods to restore their functionality.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet printer system with a movable print assembly and a wiper assembly that pivots between printing and maintenance positions, utilizing a fluid distribution device to clean the wiper assembly before and after contact with the print head, allowing for automated maintenance without operator intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiper assembly is used to clean the print head, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the wiper assembly itself accumulates debris and requires cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning of the wiper assembly by the fluid distribution device before the wiper contacts the print head. This ensures the wiper is clean before it performs its cleaning function, preventing debris transfer to the print head and maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper assembly is automatically cleaned by the fluid distribution device as part of the maintenance cycle, without requiring separate manual intervention. The system serves itself by having the fluid distribution device clean the wiper assembly before and after it contacts the print head.
2Ease of repair
If the print assembly is moved to a special cleaning position, then maintenance can be performed, but printing operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning functions (fluid distribution device, wiper assembly) are integrated into the print assembly structure, allowing maintenance operations to be performed at any position along the printing path. This merges the cleaning function with the printing function, eliminating the need for separate cleaning positions and maintaining printing continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper assembly is designed to pivot between a retracted position (during printing) and a contact position (during maintenance). This dynamic positioning allows the system to switch between printing and cleaning modes without requiring the entire print assembly to move to a special position, thus maintaining productivity while enabling maintenance.
3Reliability
If the wiper assembly continuously contacts the print head, then cleaning is maintained, but excess ink and debris transfer to the wiper
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper assembly contacts the print head periodically during maintenance cycles rather than continuously. Between maintenance cycles, the wiper is cleaned by the fluid distribution device. This periodic contact pattern prevents excessive debris accumulation on the wiper while maintaining print head cleanliness through regular cleaning intervals.
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 system enables efficient removal of excess ink and debris from the print head without requiring a special cleaning position, reducing maintenance needs and ensuring continuous operation by allowing flushing fluid with debris to flow away from the wiper's contact edge with the print head.
Implementation Method 1
A fluid distribution device is positioned to provide fluid to clean the wiper assembly
Implementation Method 2
The wiper assembly has a second orientation in which the wiper assembly contacts the print head
Implementation Method 3
excess ink and debris is removed from the print head
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet printer with a print assembly includes an ink jet print head, the print assembly configured to be movable between a first position in which print head is positioned over a substrate to be printed upon and a second position in which the print head is positioned away from the substrate. The print head purges ink at the second position. A wiper assembly is positioned between the first position and the second position of the print assembly. The wiper assembly has a first orientation in which the wiper assembly does not contact the print head when the print assembly moves between the first position and the second position. The wiper assembly has a second orientation in which the wiper assembly contacts the print head when the print assembly moves between the second position and the first position. A fluid distribution device provides fluid to clean the wiper assembly.