Liquid Circulation Apparatus Pressure Control for Inkjet Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses face challenges in maintaining optimal pressure within the liquid ejection nozzles, leading to ink leakage or air bubble suction, which affects printing quality and efficiency, especially when the liquid level in the tank decreases during continuous printing operations.
Innovation Solution
A liquid circulation apparatus with a liquid chamber, circulation section, liquid replenishment section, gas replenishment section, pressure detection section, and control section that adjusts pressure by replenishing liquid and gas, allowing for continuous printing without stopping to maintain the pressure within the nozzles between -4.0 kPa and -0.5 kPa, preventing ink leakage and air bubble suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If liquid is replenished to the liquid tank during continuous printing, then the liquid level is maintained, but pressure fluctuations occur causing ink leakage or air bubble suction
Solution Approach 1:
A gas chamber is introduced as an intermediary between the liquid reservoir and the liquid ejection head. This gas chamber acts as a buffer that absorbs pressure fluctuations during liquid replenishment, preventing direct pressure transmission to the nozzles that would cause ink leakage or air bubble suction. The gas chamber mediates the interaction between liquid replenishment and pressure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state of the intermediary medium from liquid to gas, utilizing the compressibility of gas to absorb pressure variations. By maintaining the gas chamber at a controlled volume and pressure, the system can accommodate liquid level changes without transmitting pressure shocks to the ejection nozzles, thus maintaining stable ejection conditions.
2Productivity
If printing operation continues without stopping, then productivity is improved, but pressure control becomes difficult leading to quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The gas chamber enables continuous liquid replenishment during printing operations without interrupting the ejection process. The compressible gas buffer allows liquid to be added to the reservoir continuously while maintaining stable pressure conditions in the ejection nozzles, ensuring uninterrupted high-quality printing.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas chamber provides beforehand cushioning against pressure fluctuations that would occur during liquid replenishment. By having this pressure-buffering mechanism in place before replenishment occurs, the system prevents quality degradation rather than correcting it after the fact, allowing continuous operation without compromising print quality.
3Quantity of substance
If pressure is adjusted by replenishing liquid only, then liquid level is maintained, but response time is insufficient to prevent pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The gas chamber serves as a immediate response mechanism that instantly absorbs pressure fluctuations when liquid is replenished. This intermediary allows the system to respond to pressure changes immediately without waiting for liquid level adjustments to propagate through the entire system, significantly reducing the response time for pressure stabilization.
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 solution ensures stable ink ejection, reduces pressure fluctuations, and maintains print quality by simultaneously replenishing ink and adjusting pressure, allowing for uninterrupted printing and improved production efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation section configured to circulate the liquid between the liquid chamber and the liquid ejection section
Implementation Method 2
a pressure detection section configured to detect pressure of the liquid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, a liquid circulation apparatus comprises a liquid chamber configured to hold liquid which is to be supplied to a liquid ejection section ejecting liquid, a circulation section configured to circulate the liquid between the liquid chamber and the liquid ejection section, a liquid replenishment section configured to replenish liquid to the liquid chamber, a gas replenishment section configured to replenish gas to the liquid chamber, a pressure detection section configured to detect pressure of the liquid chamber, and a control section configured to adjust pressure of the liquid ejection section by replenishing the liquid to the liquid chamber with the liquid replenishment section and replenishing the gas to the liquid chamber with the gas replenishment section.