Liquid Drop Ejection Deviation Detection via Intersecting Laser Beams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid drop ejection apparatuses, such as ink-jet printers, fail to detect deviations in the direction of liquid drop ejection accurately, especially when the deviation is parallel to the direction of laser beam emission, leading to undetected issues like ink drop deviation and nozzle clogs.
Innovation Solution
A liquid drop ejection apparatus with a light detection unit comprising two light-emitting units and two light-receiving units arranged to intersect along a plane, allowing for relative movement with the ejection head to detect deviations in liquid drop ejection direction, including the use of a control unit to control the ejection process and movement for precise deviation detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single light beam is used to detect liquid drop ejection, then the detection structure is simple, but the detection precision is insufficient for deviations parallel to the beam direction
Solution Approach 1:
The single light beam is divided into multiple light beams (first light beam and second light beam) that travel along different paths. This segmentation allows the system to detect deviations in multiple directions simultaneously, improving measurement precision without requiring a single complex detection path
Solution Approach 2:
The detection system transitions from one-dimensional single-beam detection to two-dimensional multi-beam detection by arranging light beams at different angles (e.g., 45 degrees and 135 degrees). This dimensional expansion enables detection of deviations in both lateral directions, resolving the limitation of single-beam detection
2Measurement precision
If the light detection unit is stationary relative to the ejection head, then the detection system is simple, but it cannot detect deviations through relative movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces relative movement between the light detection unit and the liquid drop ejection head by mounting one component on a movable carriage. This dynamic configuration allows the detection system to scan across the ejection surface, enabling detection of deviations that would be invisible to a stationary detector
Solution Approach 2:
A movable carriage serves as an intermediary mechanism that facilitates relative movement between the stationary light source/detector assembly and the moving ejection head. This intermediary enables controlled scanning motion, allowing the system to detect deviations through positional changes without requiring complex direct coupling
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
Enables accurate detection of deviations in liquid drop ejection direction, allowing for timely maintenance and preventing print quality issues by determining the amount of deviation and identifying abnormal ejections, thus improving the reliability of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
liquid drop ejection head having a plurality of nozzles for ejecting light-reflecting liquid drops
Data Source
AI summary
A light detection device includes laser sources arranged at both ends in the scanning direction and at one end in the paper feed direction for emitting laser beams intersecting with each other, and light receiving elements arranged at both ends in the scanning direction and at the other end in the paper feed direction for receiving the laser beams emitted from the laser sources. An ink-jet head is adapted to be capable of reciprocating in the scanning direction, and a plurality of nozzle ejection ports are formed between the laser sources and the light-receiving elements in terms of paper feed direction. When ink drops ejected from a nozzle are overlapped with the laser beams, the laser beams are interrupted by the ink drops, and hence the light-receiving elements do not receive the laser beams any longer. The detection of these light beams may be used to determine an amount of deviation in liquid drops ejected from the nozzles, and corrective measures may be taken.