Inkjet Ejection Head Wiper Segmented Cleaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Ejection failures occur in recording heads due to ink accumulation in recessed portions during wiping operations, as existing methods either fail to fully clean the ejection port surface or cause ink droplets to remain, leading to incomplete cleaning and potential ejection issues.

Innovation Solution

An ejection apparatus with a wiper system that performs a first wiping operation with a closer distance and a second operation with a greater distance from the ejection port surface, ensuring thorough cleaning while preventing ink droplet removal from recessed portions, and includes a heating recovery step to evaporate remaining ink droplets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the ejection port surface is wiped with strong wiping conditions to fully clean the surface, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but ink droplets are drawn out of the recessed portion and remain on the ejection port surface causing ejection failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidejection success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wiping operation is divided into two distinct phases: a first wiping operation with stronger wiping conditions to clean the ejection port surface, and a second wiping operation with weaker wiping conditions to prevent ink droplets from being drawn out of the recessed portion. This segmentation allows each phase to address specific cleaning needs without causing harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first wiping operation is performed as a preliminary action to remove accumulated ink from the ejection port surface before the second wiping operation. By performing this initial cleaning with stronger conditions first, the subsequent weaker wiping can focus on preventing ink droplet extrusion without compromising overall cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the ejection port surface is wiped with weak wiping conditions to prevent ink droplets from being drawn out, then the ejection success rate is improved, but the ejection port surface may not be fully cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection success rateVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wiping operation is divided into two distinct phases: a first wiping operation with stronger wiping conditions to clean the ejection port surface, and a second wiping operation with weaker wiping conditions to prevent ink droplets from being drawn out of the recessed portion. This segmentation allows each phase to address specific cleaning needs without causing harmful effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first wiping operation is performed as a preliminary action to remove accumulated ink from the ejection port surface before the second wiping operation. By performing this initial cleaning with stronger conditions first, the subsequent weaker wiping can focus on preventing ink droplet extrusion without compromising overall cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Prevents ejection failures by ensuring a fully cleaned ejection port surface and reducing the number of ink droplets left behind, thereby maintaining effective inkjet recording performance.

Implementation Method 1

a wiper configured to wipe the ejection port surface... the wiper performs a wiping operation for wiping the ejection head to wipe the ejection port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a heating unit configured to heat the ejection port surface in a state where the ejection port surface and the installation unit are at the third distance

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11780231B2Ejection apparatus and wiping method

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 CANON KK

AI summary

An ejection apparatus includes an ejection head, and a recessed portion, a wiper, an installation unit, and a moving unit configured to move the blade and the ejection head relative to each other, wherein the wiper performs a wiping operation for wiping the ejection head to wipe the ejection port after wiping the recessed portion, and wherein in the wiping operation, a first wiping operation is performed in a state where the ejection port surface and the installation unit on which the wiper is installed are at a first distance in a direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface, and a second wiping operation is performed in a state where the ejection port surface and the installation unit on which the wiper is installed are at a second distance in the direction perpendicular to the ejection port surface, the second distance being larger than the first distance.