Liquid Discharge Device Drive Waveform Switching for Battery Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

The quality of the discharged region formed by a liquid discharge device degrades when the drive signal is switched during image formation on a recording medium, leading to abnormal areas and reduced quality due to transient changes in discharge characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge device with multiple units that switch drive waveforms based on acquired liquid characteristics, such as temperature, to ensure consistent discharge quality by dispersing abnormal areas along the conveying direction, preventing concentration and enhancing the uniformity of the discharged region.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the drive signal is switched during image formation to adapt to liquid characteristics, then the discharge quality can be maintained under varying conditions, but abnormal areas appear and quality degrades due to transient changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to liquid characteristicsVSAvoidquality of discharged region
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the liquid discharge system into multiple independent discharge units, each capable of receiving different drive signals. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to liquid characteristic changes without requiring a single unit to switch signals, thereby avoiding the quality degradation that occurs during signal transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic adaptation by assigning different drive signals to different discharge units based on real-time liquid characteristics. Instead of statically switching signals across all units (which causes transient abnormalities), the system dynamically configures which units use which signals, maintaining optimal discharge quality throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple liquid discharge units operate simultaneously, then productivity increases, but quality uniformity decreases due to concentrated abnormal areas

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedischarge efficiencyVSAvoiduniformity of discharged region
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allowing different discharge units to operate with different drive signals suited to their specific liquid characteristics. Each unit maintains optimal local discharge quality rather than forcing uniform operation across all units, preventing the concentration of abnormalities while preserving high productivity through parallel operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4043219B1Liquid discharge device, liquid discharge method, and liquid discharge device for battery member
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP4043219B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4043219B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4043219B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid discharge device (100) for discharging and applying liquid to a target discharging medium (2) conveyed in a predetermined conveying direction (20) to form a discharged region, includes a plurality of liquid discharge units (30, 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) configured to discharge the liquid based on a drive waveform (33, 34); an output unit (74) configured to output the drive waveform to the liquid discharge unit; an acquisition unit (71) configured to acquire information representing a characteristic of the liquid; and a switching unit (75) configured to switch the drive waveform based on the characteristic. The plurality of liquid discharge units includes first and second liquid discharge units (30a, 30b), disposed at position separated from each other in the conveying direction. When the characteristic satisfies a predetermined condition, positions at which the liquid is applied by the first and second liquid discharge units on the target discharging medium are separated from each other in the conveying direction.