Liquid Ejecting Device Mist Formation for Nozzle Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting devices face issues with paper dust causing nozzle clogging and excessive water absorption leading to waving or wrinkling, which affects recording quality, and require separate ejecting units increasing device size and cost.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting device with a support portion, transport unit, and control unit that performs distinct ejection controls for recording, maintenance, and mist formation, eliminating the need for separate ejecting units by increasing humidity to prevent paper dust from adhering to nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If liquid containing water is directly ejected onto sheet to suppress scattering of paper dust, then paper dust scattering is suppressed, but sheet excessively absorbs water causing waving or wrinkling which adversely affects recording quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the liquid ejection strategy based on location and purpose: maintenance ejection targets the nozzle area to prevent dust adhesion, while recording ejection targets the sheet for image formation. The control unit selectively activates different ejection modes (maintenance vs. recording) with different liquid amounts and timing, ensuring that water is not excessively applied to the sheet while still protecting nozzles from dust.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by performing maintenance ejection before recording ejection. The control unit executes maintenance liquid ejection to remove paper dust from the nozzle area prior to the recording process, preventing dust from interfering with subsequent recording operations. This preliminary cleaning action eliminates the need to over-eject liquid during recording to prevent dust adhesion.
2Reliability
If separate ejecting unit is provided for ejecting transparent liquid containing at least water onto sheet, then nozzle clogging due to paper dust is suppressed, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the recording head perform multiple functions: it serves as both the recording ejection unit and the maintenance ejection unit. The control unit enables the same nozzle array to execute both recording ejection (for image formation) and maintenance ejection (for dust removal and clogging prevention). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate ejecting unit, thereby reducing device size and cost while maintaining reliable nozzle protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the maintenance ejection function and recording ejection function into a single integrated system. The control unit combines both ejection purposes within one recording head, allowing the device to achieve nozzle clogging prevention without requiring an additional separate ejecting unit. This consolidation reduces device complexity, size, and cost.
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
Prevents paper dust from adhering to nozzles, maintains recording quality, and reduces device size and cost by optimizing ejection controls and humidity management.
Implementation Method 1
third ejection control for turning the liquid into mist between the liquid ejecting unit and the support portion
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit of a liquid ejecting device can perform, as control for ejecting liquid from a liquid ejecting unit, a first ejection control for performing recording on a medium, a second ejection control being a different control from the first ejection control for performing maintenance of the liquid ejecting unit, and a third ejection control being a different control from the first ejection control and the second ejection control for turning the liquid into mist between the liquid ejecting unit and a support portion, and the control unit further performs, when performing the third ejection control, the third ejection control before feeding the medium between the support portion and the liquid ejecting unit.