Liquid Discharge Apparatus Pre-First-Page Dummy Discharge Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in maintaining nozzle conditions during idle periods, leading to potential issues with image quality and nozzle clogging due to dry-out and liquid thickening before the start of printing.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge apparatus with a dummy discharge controller that performs a pre-first-page dummy discharge operation, discharging dummy droplets onto the continuous medium from the start of feeding until the beginning of printing, using a combination of line and star flushing techniques to maintain nozzle health and prevent liquid thickening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If dummy discharge operation is not performed during idle period, then productivity is improved (faster start of printing), but nozzle conditions deteriorate (dry-out and liquid thickening occur)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestart of printingVSAvoidnozzle conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary dummy discharge operations during the idle period between continuous medium feeding and first page printing. This preliminary action prevents nozzle dry-out and liquid thickening before actual printing begins, ensuring reliable nozzle conditions without significantly delaying productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The dummy discharge controller performs periodic dummy discharge operations during the idle period, discharging dummy discharge droplets at regular intervals. This periodic action maintains nozzle conditions by preventing liquid stagnation and dry-out, while the timing is optimized to minimize impact on overall productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If dummy discharge operation is performed during idle period, then nozzle conditions are maintained (preventing dry-out and thickening), but productivity deteriorates (delay in first page printing)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle conditionsVSAvoidstart of printing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial dummy discharge operations - not continuous flushing but selective discharge of dummy droplets at optimized intervals during the idle period. This partial action is sufficient to maintain nozzle conditions while minimizing the time delay compared to continuous dummy discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If liquid is not discharged during idle period, then productivity is improved (immediate printing start), but liquid in nozzles thickens and quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary dummy discharge to maintain liquid flow and prevent thickening during the idle period. This preliminary action ensures that when printing begins, the liquid is at the correct viscosity for high-quality image formation, avoiding defects that would require re-printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If continuous dummy discharge is performed, then nozzle conditions are well maintained, but energy consumption increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle conditionsVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The dummy discharge controller implements periodic dummy discharge operations during the idle period, activating the liquid discharge head at regular intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains nozzle conditions effectively while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous dummy discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10011115B2Liquid discharge apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium storing program

Publication Date: 2018.07.03 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

A liquid discharge apparatus includes a liquid discharge head and a dummy discharge controller. The liquid discharge head includes nozzles to discharge liquid onto a continuous medium. The dummy discharge controller controls a dummy discharge operation to discharge dummy discharge droplets onto the continuous medium. The dummy discharge controller controls the liquid discharge head to perform a pre-first-page dummy discharge operation to discharge dummy discharge droplets onto the continuous medium in a period from a start of feeding of the continuous medium to a start of printing of a first page.