Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Flow Rate Control for Viscosity and Bubble Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in reducing ink viscosity and removing air bubbles while maintaining cost-effectiveness, as increasing the flow rate to remove air bubbles leads to higher pump capacity and increased viscosity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a control section that adjusts the flow rate of a circulating mechanism to manage ink viscosity and bubble removal, utilizing a bypass flow channel system to balance flow channel resistances and maintain efficient ink circulation without increasing pump capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the flow rate of the circulating liquid is increased to remove air bubbles, then air bubbles are removed, but the pump capacity increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic circulation of liquid through the flow channel by controlling the pump to operate intermittently rather than continuously. The control unit activates the pump at specific intervals to circulate liquid for a predetermined duration, then stops it. This periodic action enables air bubbles to be removed during pump operation while minimizing pump runtime, thereby reducing pump capacity requirements and associated costs while still achieving effective bubble removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the flow rate parameter dynamically by controlling the pump to operate at high flow rates only during brief periodic intervals rather than maintaining a constant high flow rate. This parameter change allows air bubbles to be removed during pump operation while significantly reducing the overall pump capacity needed compared to continuous high-flow operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the flow rate of the circulating liquid is increased to reduce viscosity, then viscosity is reduced, but the pump capacity increases and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates periodically at elevated flow rates to circulate liquid through the flow channel, which reduces liquid viscosity during these intervals. The control unit manages pump operation to achieve viscosity reduction only when necessary, rather than maintaining continuous high-flow operation. This periodic approach reduces viscosity effectively while minimizing pump capacity requirements and operational costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the flow rate parameter by operating the pump at high flow rates during specific periodic intervals to reduce liquid viscosity. This temporary parameter change achieves the desired viscosity reduction without requiring continuous high-flow operation, thereby reducing the overall pump capacity needed and lowering costs.
3Ease of operation
If the flow rate of the circulating liquid is kept constant, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot simultaneously reduce viscosity and remove air bubbles without increasing pump capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static constant flow rate operation to dynamic periodic flow rate control. The control unit automatically adjusts the pump operation between active (high flow rate) and inactive (zero or low flow rate) states based on predetermined timing parameters. This dynamic control enables the system to achieve both viscosity reduction and air bubble removal while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control, avoiding the need for manual intervention or complex user decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic pump operation with predetermined time intervals, automatically switching between circulation and non-circulation phases. This periodic action maintains ease of operation through automated control while enabling effective viscosity reduction and air bubble removal during active phases, all without requiring increased pump capacity compared to what would be needed for continuous operation.
Data Source
AI summary
The control section sets, as a first flow rate, a flow rate of the liquid, which is circulated by the circulating mechanism, per unit time, during an ejection operation of ejecting the liquid from the liquid ejecting head. The control section sets, as a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate, a flow rate of the liquid, which is circulated by the circulating mechanism, per unit time, during a recovery operation of recovering a state of the liquid ejecting head.