Inkjet Wiper Perpendicular Motion to Prevent Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face contamination issues due to ink droplets from maintenance operations, which can adhere to conveyor belts or papers, leading to contamination of the recording medium and conveyance mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The image recording apparatus features liquid ejection heads arranged in two non-overlapping rows, with wipers moving in opposite directions along the perpendicular direction to wipe the ejection faces from the inner end to an outer position, ensuring that any ink droplets fall outside the conveyance region, thereby preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wipers are used to wipe ink from the ejection face, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ink droplets may fall onto the conveyor belt or recording medium causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wiping direction from the conventional direction (parallel to conveyor belt movement) to a perpendicular direction. The wipers move in the width direction of the conveyor belt, perpendicular to the conveyance direction, so that ink droplets fall onto the sides of the conveyor belt rather than onto the recording medium or belt surface, thereby preventing contamination while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful effect of ink droplet contamination is extracted and redirected away from the recording medium and conveyor belt surface. By changing the wiping motion to perpendicular movement, the ink is removed from the ejection face and directed toward the sides, effectively separating the cleaning function from the contamination risk area
2Productivity
If multiple ejection faces are arranged to increase productivity, then printing efficiency is improved, but the complexity of maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ejection faces (first and second ejection faces) into a single maintenance operation. Both ejection faces are wiped simultaneously or in sequence by wipers moving in the same perpendicular direction, allowing maintenance of multiple ejection surfaces without proportionally increasing maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper mechanism is designed to perform a universal cleaning function across multiple ejection faces. The same wiper structure and perpendicular wiping motion can be applied to both the first and second ejection faces, making the maintenance system multi-functional rather than requiring separate specialized mechanisms for each ejection face
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 arrangement effectively suppresses contamination of the recording medium and conveyance mechanisms by ensuring ink droplets are directed outside the conveyance area, maintaining cleanliness and preventing ink mixing during the wiping process.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of wipers which wipe the ejection faces of the liquid ejection heads
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes liquid ejection heads, wipers, and a movement means. The liquid ejection heads respectively have ejection faces, and are arranged in such a manner that the ejection faces form two rows extending in one direction and in addition two of the ejection faces included in different rows do not overlap each other along a direction perpendicular to the one direction. The liquid ejection heads are divided into one or more head groups each including two of the liquid ejection heads corresponding to the different rows. The movement means moves two of the wipers associated with two liquid ejection heads belonging to each head group, from inner end portions of the ejection faces in opposite directions along the perpendicular direction while keeping the two wipers in contact with the ejection faces.