Liquid Ejecting Head Capping With Extendable Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet recording devices, face challenges in simplifying and reducing size due to the integration of a medium supporting member and cap that move up and down, restricting the arrangement of recording heads and complicating the apparatus structure, especially with the increasing demand for high image quality and dense arrangement of recording heads.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a coupling member that extends and contracts along a first axis, allowing relative movement of a medium supporting member and cap with respect to the ejecting head, enabling the capping and wiping operations without interfering with the recording head, and simplifying the apparatus configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the medium supporting member and cap move up and down together, then capping operation can be performed, but the arrangement of recording heads is restricted and apparatus size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the moving system into separate components: the medium supporting member moves independently in the substage direction, while the cap moves independently in the stage direction. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function without being constrained by the other, enabling compact arrangement of recording heads and reducing overall apparatus size while maintaining capping operation capability.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple recording heads are densely arranged, then image quality improves, but space for medium supporting member decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the space conflict by introducing independent movement in multiple dimensions. The medium supporting member can move in the substage direction (vertical to ejecting direction) while recording heads are densely arranged in the stage direction. This dimensional separation allows dense head arrangement for high image quality while providing sufficient space for medium supporting member operations.
3Device complexity
If medium supporting member is positioned in gap between recording heads, then apparatus is simplified, but collision with recording head occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic positioning where the medium supporting member can move independently in the substage direction, allowing it to be positioned in gaps between recording heads during recording operations. The independent movement capability enables the system to adapt positions dynamically, simplifying apparatus structure while avoiding collision with recording heads through controlled motion separation.
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid in an ejecting direction along a first axis, a medium supporting member that has a supporting surface supporting a medium and an opening portion facing a nozzle, a cap that is disposed in the opening portion when viewed in the ejecting direction, a coupling member that couples the medium supporting member to the cap and has a base member and a first coupling member coupling the base member to the medium supporting member and configured to extend/contract in a direction along the first axis, and a moving mechanism that causes relative movement of the coupling member with respect to the liquid ejecting head along the first axis.