Inkjet Wiper Speed Control for Step Portion Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink accumulation in step portions of an ink-jet recording head's ejection port surface can lead to adherence issues during wiping, causing defective ejection due to the complexity of blade arrangements required to manage different rigidity and potential ink accumulation in non-ejection areas.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus with a wiper and moving unit that slows down near step portions on the ejection port surface, allowing the wiper to stop or pass through these areas at a lower speed, followed by a second wiping phase to ensure thorough cleaning, thereby preventing ink adherence to the ejection ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blade is used to wipe the ejection port surface, then the ejection state of ink is maintained, but ink accumulates in step portions and adheres to the vicinity of ejection ports causing defective ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The wiping process is divided into multiple phases: a first wiping phase that performs initial cleaning, and a second wiping phase that specifically addresses ink accumulation in step portions. This segmentation allows each phase to target specific cleaning needs, preventing ink adherence while maintaining ejection performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping operation is performed periodically with alternating patterns - the first wiping removes surface ink, then the second wiping addresses accumulated ink in step portions. This periodic alternating action ensures continuous prevention of ink adherence without compromising ejection state.
2Reliability
If multiple blades of different rigidity are arranged side by side, then re-adherence of sticking substance is prevented, but the configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex multi-blade arrangement and replaces it with a single wiper that achieves the same effectiveness through controlled periodic wiping actions. This simplifies the device structure while maintaining the reliability of preventing sticking substance re-adherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical complexity of multiple blades with different rigidities is replaced by a control system that manages the wiping speed and timing. The control unit adjusts the wiper's movement to achieve different wiping effects without requiring multiple physical blades, substituting mechanical diversity with control logic.
3Productivity
If the wiper moves at constant speed, then wiping efficiency is high, but ink in step portions is not properly removed causing adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper's moving speed is made dynamic rather than constant. The control unit adjusts the speed based on the wiping phase: faster during the first wiping for efficiency, and slower during the second wiping near step portions for thorough ink removal. This dynamic speed adjustment maintains both productivity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping speed parameter is changed between different wiping phases. The control unit modifies the speed parameter to be lower when the wiper is near step portions during the second wiping, ensuring proper ink removal while maintaining high efficiency during other phases of the wiping cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a wiper, a recording head having a step portion and an ejection port surface supporting an ejection port, and a moving unit to relatively move the wiper and the recording head so that the wiper moves with respect to the recording head in relative movement in a first direction. In a first wiping, the relative movement causes the wiper to stop at or in vicinity of the step portion, or pass at or in the vicinity of the step portion at a speed lower than a speed at which the wiper wipes an area in which the ejection port is arranged. In a second wiping performed after the first wiping, the relative movement causes the wiper to pass through the step portion of the recording head and wipe the recording head in the first direction toward the area, and thereafter wipe the area.