Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Maintenance Member Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses do not effectively manage the positional relationship between maintenance members and the drying unit, leading to issues such as increased viscosity of ink in nozzles and decreased maintenance efficiency due to heat emission from the drying unit.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a space forming member that moves between a space forming position and a retracted position further separated from the drying unit to maintain high humidity and prevent ink evaporation, an absorbing member that moves closer to the drying unit to reduce liquid content and enhance absorption efficiency, and a wiping member that maintains a wet state by being separated from the drying unit to prevent performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the space forming member is disposed close to the drying unit to improve maintenance accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the liquid in the nozzle evaporates and viscosity increases due to heat exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance function is segmented into two distinct members: the space forming member that creates a closed environment for the nozzle, and the absorbing member that handles liquid removal. This segmentation allows the space forming member to be positioned for optimal maintenance access while the absorbing member manages the harmful heat exposure by being positioned closer to the drying unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The space forming member acts as an intermediary between the nozzle and the drying unit's heat source. By positioning this member to form a closed space, it mediates the thermal interaction, protecting the liquid in the nozzle from direct heat exposure while still allowing the maintenance member to access the nozzle effectively.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the absorbing member is disposed far from the drying unit to avoid heat exposure, then the liquid content is maintained, but the absorption efficiency decreases due to reduced liquid availability
Solution Approach 1:
The absorbing member is positioned to move into contact with the liquid ejecting head at the appropriate time before the drying unit operates. This preliminary positioning ensures that the absorbing member is ready to capture liquid immediately when needed, maximizing absorption efficiency without requiring constant proximity to the drying unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The absorbing member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. It can move closer to the drying unit when liquid absorption is needed to maximize efficiency, and move away when not in use to avoid unnecessary heat exposure and maintain liquid content.
3Productivity
If the wiping member is disposed close to the drying unit to improve cleaning efficiency, then the productivity is improved, but the wiping performance degrades due to evaporation of liquid from the wiping member
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful thermal environment is extracted from the wiping member's operational zone. The wiping member is positioned away from the drying unit's direct heat exposure during its wiping operation, separating the cleaning function from the thermal drying function to maintain wiping performance while still achieving efficient cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping member operates periodically in a controlled manner, moving into position to wipe the nozzle area and then retracting. This periodic action allows the wiping member to perform cleaning efficiently during its active phase while minimizing exposure to heat during retraction and positioning phases, maintaining liquid content and wiping performance.
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 configuration prevents ink viscosity increase, maintains high humidity in the nozzle area, ensures efficient absorption and wiping performance, and optimizes the retracted positions of maintenance members to account for the drying unit's heat emission, thereby improving overall maintenance and operation efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a drying unit which dries the medium to which liquid is attached by applying heat
Implementation Method 2
by retaining liquid for moisturizing in the space forming member thereby maintaining high humidity in the closed space
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a medium supporting unit which supports a medium that is transported along a transport path; a liquid ejecting head which includes a nozzle for ejecting liquid onto a medium that is supported by the medium supporting unit; a heating part which heats the medium; and a space forming member which forms a closed space at which the nozzle is opened. The space forming member is configured to move between a space forming position in which the space forming member is disposed when forming the closed space, and a retracted position which is further separated from the heating part than the space forming position.