Liquid Ejecting System Nozzle Inspection via Specific Data Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting systems face a long wait time for users due to the timing of nozzle cleaning, which occurs after data transmission is complete, leading to inefficient use of resources and prolonged printing times, especially in kiosk terminals where users must wait for image printing to finish.
Innovation Solution
A control method for liquid ejecting systems that includes a specific data detecting process to identify non-liquid ejection data, prompting an immediate nozzle inspection and maintenance process, allowing for reduced wait times and minimized ink consumption by performing maintenance during data input preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If nozzle cleaning is performed after data transmission completion, then ink consumption is suppressed, but user wait time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs nozzle inspection and cleaning maintenance during the data input preparation phase, before actual printing begins. This preliminary action allows the nozzle to be maintained while the user is still inputting data, thereby reducing the wait time without causing unnecessary ink consumption through conditional maintenance based on detected data types
2Productivity
If nozzle inspection is performed before data transmission, then printing speed is improved, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs nozzle inspection during the data input preparation phase, which is before data transmission but after the user has initiated the printing process. This timing allows for early detection of nozzle issues without forcing maintenance that would consume ink, as the inspection is conditional and triggered by specific data detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects the type of data being input (specific data vs. liquid ejection data) and uses this feedback to determine whether to perform nozzle inspection and maintenance. This feedback mechanism ensures that maintenance is only performed when necessary, avoiding unnecessary ink consumption while still maintaining printing speed when needed
3Loss of time
If maintenance is performed immediately upon data input, then user wait time is reduced, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the type of data being input and uses this feedback to determine whether to trigger maintenance. By detecting whether the data is specific data (triggering maintenance) or liquid ejection data (not triggering maintenance), the system achieves early maintenance timing to reduce wait time while avoiding unnecessary ink consumption through conditional execution
Data Source
AI summary
A control method for a liquid ejecting system provided with a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting portion for ejecting a liquid and an inputting apparatus including a data inputting portion through which data can be inputted includes a specific data detecting process that detects whether or not input data inputted to the data inputting portion is specific data which is other than liquid ejection data for causing a liquid corresponding to an image to be formed on an ejection target medium to be ejected from the liquid ejecting portion and which is determined in advance as data for prompting an ejection inspection; and a nozzle inspecting process that, in the case where the specific data is detected in the specific data detecting process, causes a nozzle inspecting portion to perform the ejection inspection.