Liquid Ejecting Head Ink Filling Inspection via Voltage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid ejecting heads and recording apparatuses lack convenience in inspecting ink filling states and acquiring essential parameters for optimal operation, often requiring ink consumption during the inspection process.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head and recording apparatus that utilize a combination of drive cycles and current detection to inspect the ink filling state and acquire parameters like the natural vibration period (AP value) without consuming ink, using a flowchart-based arithmetic operation processing to determine the filling state and parameter validity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional inspection methods are used to check ink filling state, then measurement can be performed, but ink is consumed during the inspection process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/physical inspection method (which requires ink ejection and consumption) with an electrical measurement system. Specifically, it uses voltage detection across a capacitor formed by the drive wall and common wall to infer ink filling state, eliminating the need for actual ink consumption during inspection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement approach by using the capacitor effect between the drive wall and common wall as a mediator. The voltage signal across this capacitor serves as an intermediary indicator that reflects the ink filling state without requiring direct interaction with or consumption of the ink itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple inspection methods are implemented, then comprehensive parameter acquisition is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the voltage detection circuit serve multiple functions: it simultaneously performs ink filling state inspection, natural vibration period measurement, and printing quality evaluation. This multi-functionality approach allows comprehensive parameter acquisition without adding separate dedicated inspection systems, thereby avoiding excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple inspection functions into a single integrated measurement process. By combining ink filling detection, vibration period measurement, and quality assessment into one unified voltage-based inspection system, it reduces overall device complexity while maintaining comprehensive parameter acquisition capability.
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 approach allows for efficient and convenient inspection and parameter acquisition, reducing costs and improving the accuracy and convenience of the ink jet head operation, enabling better printing quality by determining the validity of setting parameters without ink consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuator, which has a piezoelectric element arranged in a discharge channel, to thereby eject the liquid from the nozzle
Implementation Method 2
a capacitor having a drive wall and a common wall as electrode surfaces, a voltage detection circuit, an arithmetic operation section that performs arithmetic operation processing based on a detection result of the voltage signal
Data Source
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AI summary
There are provided a liquid ejecting head (4) and a liquid-ejecting recording apparatus in which it is possible to improve convenience. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a liquid ejecting head includes an ejecting section (41, 42) including a plurality of nozzles for ejecting liquid, a driving circuit (49) that drives the ejecting section based on a printing driving signal to eject the liquid from the nozzles, a power supply path (Rp) connected to the driving circuit, a detection section (46,47) that acquires measurement data (CV) based on a detection result of a current flowing on the power supply path, and an arithmetic operation section (48) that performs both an inspection of a state of the ejecting section based on the measurement data obtained by the detection section and acquisition of a parameter (AP1) for ejection of the liquid.