Liquid Discharge Apparatus Collision Prevention via Preliminary Position Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses lack effective mechanisms to prevent collisions between the liquid discharge unit and objects during the discharge process, particularly when dealing with complex or irregularly shaped surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a contact detection unit with first and second detectors that measure the position and surface shape of the object, allowing for verification of position data before ink discharge, ensuring the carriage moves along a safe trajectory to avoid protrusions and maintain a constant distance from the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid discharge apparatus uses a simple movement mechanism without collision detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing collision between the liquid discharge unit and object deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs position verification movement before actual ink discharge to detect protrusions in advance. The carriage executes a preliminary movement along the planned trajectory to verify safety, and only after successful verification does it proceed to the ink discharge operation, preventing collisions before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact detection unit continuously monitors the carriage position and provides feedback to the control unit. When a protrusion is detected during position verification or ink discharge, the control unit immediately adjusts the carriage movement or stops the operation, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures collision prevention.
2Reliability
If the apparatus performs position verification before ink discharge, then the reliability of collision prevention is improved, but the productivity is reduced due to additional verification time
Solution Approach 1:
The position verification is performed as a preliminary action before the main ink discharge operation. By completing the verification movement first and confirming safety, the system ensures that the subsequent ink discharge can proceed without interruption, maintaining high productivity while ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
When the position verification succeeds without detecting protrusions, the system quickly transitions to the ink discharge operation, minimizing the time spent in the verification phase. The control unit optimizes the verification trajectory to cover essential safety points while reducing unnecessary movement time.
3Measurement precision
If the contact detection unit is added to detect protrusions, then the measurement precision of object surface is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The contact detection unit acts as an intermediary between the carriage and the object surface. It includes a detection wheel that physically contacts the object surface to detect protrusions, converting physical contact into electrical signals that the control unit can process, thereby achieving precise measurement without requiring complex sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex optical or capacitive sensing systems with a simpler mechanical detection wheel that directly contacts the object surface. This mechanical approach provides reliable protrusion detection with fewer components and lower complexity while maintaining sufficient measurement precision for collision prevention.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus (1000) includes a liquid discharge unit (70), a position detector (213), and circuitry (500). The liquid discharge unit (70) has a liquid discharge port (302) and discharges a liquid from the liquid discharge port (302) toward an object (100). The position detector (213) detects a position of the liquid discharge unit (70) relative to the object (100). The circuitry (500) calculates a movement trajectory of the liquid discharge unit (70) based on the position of the liquid discharge unit (70) detected by the position detector (213). Further, the circuitry (500) performs a first operation of causing the liquid discharge unit (70) to move along the movement trajectory without discharging the liquid and performs a second operation of causing the liquid discharge unit (70) to move along the movement trajectory while discharging the liquid to the object (100) after the first operation.