Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Pressure Adjustment via Flexible Member Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in performing pressure cleaning with varying discharge amounts without complex configurations or sensors, as the deformation of the flexible member in the pressure adjustment section is difficult to control accurately, leading to inefficient ink usage and potential errors due to dimensional and temperature-related issues.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a pressure adjustment section with a fluid chamber and a flexible member, where the fluid chamber is partitioned into multiple states by a seal portion and a contact portion, allowing the adjustment of discharge amounts by controlling the driving time of the air pump, enabling multiple pressure cleaning patterns with different discharge amounts without the need for additional sensors or complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor or complex mechanism is used to control the deformation amount of the flexible member, then the discharge amount of liquid can be adjusted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible member itself serves as the control element. Its deformation amount directly determines the discharge amount without requiring external sensors or complex control mechanisms. The system uses the inherent properties of the flexible member to regulate liquid discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge amount is controlled by changing physical parameters of the flexible member, specifically its deformation amount. By adjusting how much the flexible member deforms under air pressure, the system controls the liquid discharge volume without needing additional control devices.
2Device complexity
If the flexible member deformation amount is not controlled accurately, then the device configuration remains simple, but the discharge amount cannot be adjusted and ink wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with a pneumatic system. Air pressure is used to deform the flexible member, substituting mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a simpler gas-based control approach that reduces ink wastage while maintaining device simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic pressure (air) to control the flexible member's deformation. By sending air into the air chamber, the flexible member deforms toward the liquid chamber, controlling liquid discharge without complex mechanical components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pressure cleanings with different discharge amounts are performed, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but the device configuration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the discharge amount by controlling the deformation amount of the flexible member. Different levels of air pressure create different deformation amounts, enabling multiple cleaning patterns with varying discharge amounts using the same simple device configuration.
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 allows for precise control of ink discharge during pressure cleaning, reducing ink wastage and errors, and enables multiple cleaning patterns with varying discharge amounts using a simpler setup, enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the process.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible member that includes an elastically deformable film... the pressurizing section converts, by supplying the fluid to the fluid chamber, a state of the fluid chamber into a first state in which the first contact portion and the first seal portion are in contact with each other, or a second state in which the contact between the first contact portion and the first seal portion is released
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus has a liquid-chamber, a fluid-chamber, a flexible member that includes a film and a first-seal-portion and that separates the liquid-chamber and the fluid-chamber, and a pressurizing section which supplies a fluid to the fluid-chamber to pressurize the flexible member toward the liquid-chamber. The fluid-chamber is configured such that a first-seal-portion being provided in the fluid-chamber and the first-seal-portion come into contact with each other to be partitioned into a first-fluid-chamber having an introduction port through which the fluid flows in and a-second-fluid-chamber. The pressurizing section converts, by the supply of the fluid to the fluid-chamber, a state of the fluid-chamber into a first-state in which the first-contact-portion and the first-seal-portion come into contact with each other or a second-state in which the contact between the first-contact portion and the first-seal-portion is released so that the first-fluid-chamber and the second-fluid-chamber communicate with each other.