Liquid Discharge Apparatus Nozzle Maintenance Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face challenges in effectively expelling bubbles from common liquid chambers during maintenance, as increased ink flow speed at nozzle ends does not necessarily ensure bubble removal from central regions, leading to incomplete discharge and reduced print quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a common liquid chamber design featuring higher flow speeds at the ends, where bubbles are drawn and expelled, while minimizing overall ink expulsion during maintenance by controlling the flow sequence from central to end nozzles, and varying nozzle configurations to optimize flow patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flow speed of ink at the end portions of the common liquid chamber is increased to expel bubbles, then bubbles at end portions are easily expelled, but bubbles at central portions remain and the amount of ink consumed increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by sequentially activating nozzles in a specific order (from end portions toward central portions) during maintenance mode. This dynamic sequencing creates time-varying flow patterns that systematically move bubbles from central regions to end portions where they can be expelled, optimizing both bubble removal efficiency and ink consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes hydraulic principles by leveraging the natural flow of ink through the common liquid chamber and supply openings. By controlling which nozzles are active at different times, the system creates pressure differentials and flow velocity variations that naturally transport bubbles toward expulsion points without requiring additional mechanical components or excessive ink volume
2Reliability
If the amount of ink discharged from nozzles during maintenance is increased to raise overall flow speed, then bubbles are more easily expelled, but the amount of ink consumed during maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively activating only certain nozzles (those at end portions of the common liquid chamber) during maintenance mode, rather than operating all nozzles simultaneously. This partial activation creates sufficient flow velocity at critical locations to expel bubbles while minimizing overall ink consumption from the system
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by first expelling bubbles from central portions of the common liquid chamber before addressing end portions. This sequential approach ensures that bubbles are systematically removed from all regions without requiring excessive ink volume, as each phase builds upon the previous one
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
Enhances bubble expulsion capability while reducing the amount of ink used during maintenance, improving print quality by ensuring efficient bubble removal without excessive ink usage.
Implementation Method 1
a common liquid chamber that includes a plurality of supply openings which are arranged along an arrangement of the pressure chambers and through which the liquid is supplied individually to the pressure chambers and that has, at an end portion side in an arrangement direction of the supply openings, a region in which flow speed of the liquid flowing toward the supply openings is higher than in another region
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a plurality of pressure chambers that generate a pressure for discharging a liquid, a plurality of nozzles that communicate individually with the pressure chambers and that discharge the liquid, a common liquid chamber that includes a plurality of supply openings and that has, at an end portion side in an arrangement direction of the supply openings, a region in which flow speed of the liquid flowing toward the supply openings is higher than in another region, and a controller that controls a maintenance by expelling the liquid from the nozzles. During the maintenance, the controller controls expelling the liquid from a first nozzle to a second nozzle that is one of nozzles located on the end portion side of the first nozzle in the arrangement direction of the supply openings, in an order of the first nozzle to the second nozzle.