Liquid Ejecting System Drive Pulse Waveform Decision via Server Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting systems like ink jet printers, manufacturers face challenges in setting appropriate drive pulse waveforms due to varying usage conditions such as ink type and temperature, leading to increased burden on users who need to search for optimal waveforms, especially when the printer main body and head manufacturers are different.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting system that includes a head unit with a nozzle and pressure chamber, a drive element, and a network-connected acquisition and decision module to acquire usage condition information and decide the drive pulse waveform based on input information from a server, reducing the need for users to manually search for optimal waveforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the manufacturer of the printer main body is different from the manufacturer of the head, then the system has higher adaptability to different manufacturers and usage conditions, but the burden on the manufacturer or user to search for the appropriate drive pulse waveform is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary actions by pre-storing multiple drive pulse waveforms corresponding to different usage conditions (ink types, temperatures, head models) before they are needed. When the system needs a waveform, it simply retrieves the pre-prepared information rather than searching or calculating it in real-time, thus reducing the time burden on manufacturers and users.
Solution Approach 2:
A server acts as an intermediary between the printer main body manufacturer and the head manufacturer. The server stores and manages drive pulse waveform information, allowing the printer main body to automatically acquire the appropriate waveform without the manufacturer or user needing to manually search for it. This intermediary system resolves the contradiction by providing easy access to waveform information while supporting multiple manufacturers and usage conditions.
2Device complexity
If the drive pulse waveform is manually searched and selected, then the system has simpler structure without network connection, but the operation burden on the user is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically acquiring the appropriate drive pulse waveform from the server based on the usage conditions detected by the acquisition portion. The decision portion then automatically selects the correct waveform without requiring user intervention. This automation reduces the operation burden on users while the network connection and server provide the necessary support infrastructure.
3Speed
If drive pulse waveform information is stored locally in the printer, then the system has faster access to waveform information, but the device complexity and information storage requirements are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The waveform information storage function is extracted from the printer main body and placed on an external server. The printer only retains the minimal necessary components (acquisition portion, decision portion, and communication interface) to request and receive waveform information. This extraction reduces the information storage requirements and device complexity of the printer while still enabling fast access to waveform information through the network connection.
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
This system automates the decision of drive pulse waveforms, reducing user burden and enabling optimized printing performance even when manufacturers of the printer main body and head are different, by using a network-connected system to generate and input necessary waveform information.
Implementation Method 1
a drive element for applying pressure fluctuation to a liquid in the pressure chamber by supplying a drive pulse
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting system includes a head unit that includes a nozzle for ejecting a liquid, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, and a drive element for applying pressure fluctuation to a liquid in the pressure chamber by supplying a drive pulse, an acquisition portion that acquires output information regarding a usage condition of the head unit, a first connection portion that is communicably connected to a server through a network, a first output portion that outputs the output information through the first connection portion, a first input portion to which input information regarding a waveform of the drive pulse supplied to the drive element is input through the first connection portion. A decision portion that decides the waveform of the drive pulse supplied to the drive element based on the input information.