Liquid Ejecting Head Wiping Control for Ink Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing maintenance methods for liquid ejecting heads with multiple nozzles suffer from performance deterioration due to air bubble engulfment and ink absorption at the contact and separation starting positions of the wiping member, leading to suboptimal ejection performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting device with a wiping control system that controls the contact and separation of the wiping member with the nozzle surface, utilizing a band-shaped web with controlled conveying velocities and wash liquid application to minimize ink absorption and air bubble formation, ensuring gentle contact and separation to prevent performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the web is caused to make contact with the nozzle surface at a specific place to start wiping, then the wiping can be performed on the required range, but ink is absorbed by the web and air bubbles are engulfed into the nozzle at the contact starting position, deteriorating ejection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by causing the liquid ejecting head to move in the first direction before the web contacts the nozzle surface. This pre-movement ensures that the nozzle at the contact starting position is already in motion, preventing ink absorption and air bubble engulfment when the web makes contact, thereby maintaining ejection performance while enabling effective wiping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by separating the contact starting position from the wiping target section. Instead of starting wiping at the beginning of the target section, the web contacts the nozzle surface at a position upstream (in the wiping start side), allowing the head to move through the contact zone before actual wiping begins, thus avoiding nozzle damage.
2Productivity
If the web separates from the nozzle surface within the nozzle surface to complete wiping, then the wiping process is completed, but ink is absorbed by the web and air bubbles are engulfed into the nozzle at the separation starting position, deteriorating ejection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by ensuring the liquid ejecting head moves in the first direction before the web separates from the nozzle surface. This pre-movement at the separation starting position prevents ink absorption and air bubble engulfment, maintaining nozzle ejection performance while completing the wiping process efficiently.
3Loss of time
If selective maintenance of only the required section is performed, then maintenance hours are shortened and web consumption is suppressed, but the contact and separation starting positions still cause performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wiping process into distinct zones: a contact starting position upstream of the wiping target section, the wiping target section itself, and a separation starting position within or downstream of the target section. This segmentation allows selective maintenance of only the required section while the head moves through contact and separation zones, preventing performance deterioration at transition points.
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
The solution effectively suppresses the deterioration of ejection performance by reducing ink absorption and air bubble involvement at the contact and separation positions, maintaining optimal nozzle functionality.
Implementation Method 1
more inks are absorbed by the web to generate engulfment of air bubbles into the nozzle
Data Source
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AI summary
The liquid ejecting device performs at least one control of contact control of causing a wiping member and a nozzle surface 57 to be brought into contact while performing a relative movement of a wiping unit 170 and a liquid ejecting head 56 in a first direction in a front part of a wiping target section in a wiping start side on the nozzle surface 57 and separation control of separating the wiping member from the nozzle surface 57 while performing relative movement of the wiping unit 170 and the liquid ejecting head 56 in the first direction in a rear part of a wiping target section in a wiping end side.