Liquid Ejecting Head Replacement Tracking via ID History
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid ejecting heads in apparatuses often require replacement due to malfunctions or deterioration, leading to erroneous reattachment, which can result in degraded image quality and increased manufacturing costs due to complex structures and non-volatile memory requirements.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with identification information acquisition, storage, and control devices that track and notify on the attachment state of replacement heads, preventing erroneous reattachment by storing and comparing identification information and malfunction data to correct driving signals based on usage history.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If non-volatile memory is added to the liquid ejecting head to prevent erroneous reattachment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the identification information storage function from the liquid ejecting head itself and relocates it to the liquid ejecting apparatus. The head only carries simple identification information (e.g., head ID), while the apparatus maintains a history table storing replacement information including previous head IDs. This separation eliminates the need for complex non-volatile memory in the head while preventing erroneous reattachment through software-based tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a digital copy of the head's identification information in the apparatus's history table. When a head is replaced, the system records the old head ID and the new head ID, creating a historical log. This copying mechanism allows the system to detect if a previously replaced head is reattached by comparing the current head ID against the history table, preventing erroneous reattachment without adding physical memory to the head.
2Reliability
If non-volatile memory is added to the liquid ejecting head to prevent erroneous reattachment, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the costly non-volatile memory component from the liquid ejecting head and relocates the identification and tracking functionality to the liquid ejecting apparatus. The head only requires simple identification marking (e.g., printed ID or basic sensor), while the apparatus contains the history table and comparison logic. This extraction dramatically reduces head manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability through the apparatus-based tracking system.
3Reliability
If identification information is stored and compared to prevent erroneous reattachment, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-establishing a history table in the liquid ejecting apparatus before head replacement occurs. The history table is pre-configured with the necessary structure to store head IDs and replacement information. When head replacement happens, the system simply performs data entry and comparison operations rather than implementing complex real-time monitoring or additional hardware mechanisms, thereby improving reliability with minimal increase in control system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus comprises a liquid ejecting head ejecting liquid, an identification information acquisition device configured to acquire identification information from the liquid ejecting head, a storage device in which the identification information is stored, and a control device configured to, in a case in which, when a replacement for the liquid ejecting head is made, the liquid ejecting head being a replacement target has been attached again, notify that the liquid ejecting head being the replacement target is in an attached state again, based on the identification information stored in the storage device.