Liquid Ejecting Head Posture Adjustment for Air Bubble Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, air bubbles in the common liquid chamber can hinder the ejection of liquid from the nozzles during recording operations, especially when the liquid flow direction is opposite to the gravity direction.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a control unit that controls the liquid ejecting head and the circulating mechanism. The control unit executes a recording operation in a first posture where the ejecting surface crosses a horizontal plane and a circulating operation in a second posture where the angle between the ejecting surface and the horizontal plane is smaller, facilitating the discharge of air bubbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid flow direction in the common liquid chamber is opposite to the gravity direction during circulating operation, then the liquid can be circulated through the head chip, but air bubbles are less likely to be discharged from the common liquid chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The head chip is designed with the ability to change its posture dynamically. During recording operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a first angle (e.g., substantially vertical) to enable proper liquid ejection. During circulating operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a second angle (e.g., substantially horizontal) to facilitate air bubble discharge from the common liquid chamber. This dynamic posture adjustment allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the orientation parameter of the head chip between different operations. By adjusting the angle of the ejecting surface relative to the horizontal plane, the system alters the flow direction of liquid in the common liquid chamber. During circulation, the head chip is oriented so that liquid flows in a direction that promotes air bubble discharge against gravity, thereby reducing harmful air bubbles while maintaining effective liquid circulation.
2Productivity
If the ejecting surface is positioned at a steep angle for recording operation, then liquid ejection performance is optimized, but air bubbles accumulate in the common liquid chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The head chip is designed with the ability to change its posture dynamically. During recording operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a first angle (e.g., substantially vertical) to enable proper liquid ejection. During circulating operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a second angle (e.g., substantially horizontal) to facilitate air bubble discharge from the common liquid chamber. This dynamic posture adjustment allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Before performing recording operations, the system performs circulating operations with the head chip positioned at the second angle to discharge air bubbles from the common liquid chamber. This preliminary action ensures that air bubbles are removed in advance, preventing potential ejection failures during subsequent recording operations and ensuring reliable performance.
3Reliability
If the liquid flow direction is aligned with gravity during circulating operation, then air bubbles are discharged more easily, but the circulating path configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The head chip is designed with the ability to change its posture dynamically. During recording operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a first angle (e.g., substantially vertical) to enable proper liquid ejection. During circulating operations, the ejecting surface is positioned at a second angle (e.g., substantially horizontal) to facilitate air bubble discharge from the common liquid chamber. This dynamic posture adjustment allows the system to optimize for different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the head chip's own posture adjustment capability to achieve air bubble discharge without requiring additional external mechanisms. By changing the head chip's orientation during circulating operations, the system leverages gravity and buoyancy forces naturally to discharge air bubbles, avoiding the need for complex additional discharge paths or external air removal devices.
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 solution improves the reliability of the recording operation by effectively discharging air bubbles from the common liquid chamber, reducing the risk of ejection failures during subsequent recording operations.
Implementation Method 1
When the direction of the flow of the liquid in the common liquid chamber is opposite to the gravity direction, the direction of the buoyancy acting on air bubbles and the direction of the flow of the liquid are opposite to each other, and the air bubbles are less likely to be discharged from the common liquid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head including an ejecting surface configured to eject a liquid; a tank that reserves the liquid to be supplied to the liquid ejecting head; a circulating mechanism that executes a circulating operation to circulate the liquid between the liquid ejecting head and the tank; and a control unit that controls the circulating mechanism. The control unit executes a recording operation by the liquid ejecting head in a first posture in which the ejecting surface crosses a horizontal plane and executes the circulating operation in a second posture in which an angle made by the ejecting surface and the horizontal plane is smaller than the angle in the first posture.