Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Dual Piezo Vibration Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses using piezoelectric elements, high viscosity of ink leads to rapid attenuation of residual vibration, making it difficult to analyze and control ink discharge, especially when forming images on media.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a pressure vibration section with a second piezoelectric element and a flow path design that reduces viscous resistance, allowing for slower attenuation of residual vibration and accurate detection, enabling effective viscosity analysis and controlled ink discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the viscosity of the liquid is high, then the liquid can be discharged from the nozzle, but the residual vibration is rapidly attenuated making it difficult to analyze
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pressure chamber system into two separate chambers: a first pressure chamber for ink discharge and a second pressure chamber for vibration detection. This segmentation allows the vibration detection function to be isolated from the discharge function, enabling accurate residual vibration measurement without being affected by the high viscosity of the discharge ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a second pressure chamber as an intermediary system that contains a detection liquid with lower viscosity. This intermediary chamber allows residual vibration to be detected indirectly through the detection liquid, which maintains vibration longer due to its lower viscosity, thereby solving the measurement problem without affecting the main discharge function.
2Manufacturing precision
If a piezoelectric element is used to eject liquid, then precise liquid discharge can be achieved, but residual vibration analysis becomes difficult when ink viscosity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the piezoelectric element system into two parts: a first piezoelectric element for driving liquid discharge and a second piezoelectric element for detecting residual vibration. Each element operates independently in its own pressure chamber, allowing the detection element to measure vibration without being hindered by the viscous properties of the discharge ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The second pressure chamber with detection liquid serves as an intermediary measurement system. The detection liquid, having lower viscosity than the ink, acts as a mediator that preserves residual vibration characteristics longer, enabling the second piezoelectric element to accurately detect vibration signals that would otherwise be rapidly attenuated in the high-viscosity ink system.
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 design allows for accurate detection and analysis of residual vibration even at high ink viscosity, ensuring consistent ink discharge and improved image formation quality.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element that changes the inner volume of the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 2
a counter electromotive force (residual vibration) generated by the piezoelectric element after a driving signal has been applied
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus has: a liquid discharge section configured to change an inner volume of a first pressure chamber communicating with a nozzle by a first piezoelectric element; a pressure vibration section configured to change an inner volume of a second pressure chamber by a second piezoelectric element; a driving signal generation section configured to generate a discharging driving signal for the first piezoelectric element and a detection driving signal for the second piezoelectric element; and a vibration detection section that detects residual vibration of a liquid filled in the second pressure chamber after the supply of the detection driving signal. The viscous resistance of a flow path between the second pressure chamber and the common flow path is lower than the viscous resistance of a flow path between the first pressure chamber and the common flow path.