Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Nozzle Viscosity Control via Conditional Flushing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face inefficiencies in recording speed and liquid consumption due to unnecessary flushing processing when the time interval between recording processes is short, leading to potential viscosity increases near the nozzles.
Innovation Solution
A controller determines if the time interval between completion of a first recording process and the start of a second recording process exceeds a threshold value, and if so, executes the flushing process after the first recording process and before the second process, optimizing the timing to prevent viscosity increases without unnecessary liquid consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flushing processing is executed after every recording processing regardless of time interval, then the viscosity increase of liquid near nozzle is suppressed, but liquid is consumed uselessly and recording speed is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flushing processing conditional rather than static and continuous. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to execute flushing based on the calculated time interval between recording processes, adapting the system behavior to actual operational conditions to avoid unnecessary liquid discharge while maintaining nozzle performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of flushing execution from a fixed state (always execute) to a variable state (execute only when time interval exceeds threshold). By introducing a time interval threshold parameter, the system optimizes liquid consumption and recording speed by adjusting flushing frequency based on actual viscosity risk conditions.
2Reliability
If the flushing processing is executed frequently to prevent viscosity increase, then nozzle performance is maintained, but liquid consumption increases and recording speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by executing flushing processing only when necessary (when time interval exceeds threshold) rather than continuously. This partial execution strategy maintains adequate nozzle performance by flushing only when viscosity increase becomes a risk, while avoiding excessive liquid consumption associated with frequent unnecessary flushing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by calculating the time interval between recording processes and using this information to determine whether flushing should be executed. The controller continuously monitors operational timing and adjusts flushing frequency based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes liquid consumption while maintaining nozzle performance.
3Reliability
If the time interval for flushing is reduced to prevent viscosity increase, then liquid viscosity near nozzle is controlled, but recording speed is lowered due to more frequent flushing interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by calculating the time interval between recording processes in advance and determining beforehand whether flushing should be executed. This advance planning allows the system to optimize the timing of flushing operations, executing them only when the time interval indicates actual viscosity risk, thereby maintaining recording speed while ensuring viscosity control when necessary.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a head having nozzles; a conveyor configured to convey a recording medium; and a controller. The controller executes: a recording processing of conveying the recording medium by the conveyor and ejecting liquid from the nozzles with respect to the recording medium based on image data; a flushing processing of discharging the liquid from the nozzles with respect to a flushing area, based on flushing data different from the image data; and a first determining processing of determining, based on the image data, whether a time interval after completion of a first recording processing and until start of a second recording processing exceeds a threshold value.