Liquid Ejection Drive Device Auxiliary Contraction Phase
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multidrop drive techniques for liquid ejection devices struggle to maintain consistent ejection speeds across multiple drops, particularly after the initial drop, which affects printing performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection drive device that incorporates a multidrop waveform with adjustment drop waveforms, including an auxiliary contraction phase, to reduce the difference in ejection speeds between drops. The drive circuit applies a drive signal with a combination of standard and adjustment drop waveforms, where the later drops have smaller auxiliary contraction elements to maintain consistent ejection speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a micro-vibration pulse is added before an ejection waveform to increase ejection speed, then the ejection speed of the first drop is greatly improved, but the ejection speed adjustment for subsequent drops becomes challenging and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ejection control into two distinct waveform types: standard drop waveforms for normal operation and adjustment drop waveforms with auxiliary contraction phases for speed optimization. This segmentation allows selective application of micro-vibration pulses only to specific drops (first and intermediate drops) rather than all drops, thereby improving first drop ejection speed while maintaining consistency for subsequent drops through standardized waveforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by making the drive waveform variable based on drop position in the multidrop sequence. The control device dynamically selects between standard and adjustment waveforms, and the adjustment waveform itself contains a dynamic auxiliary contraction phase with adjustable pulse width. This dynamic approach allows optimization of ejection speed for early drops while maintaining stability for later drops, resolving the contradiction between speed improvement and consistency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adjustment waveforms with auxiliary contraction phases are applied to all drops to maintain consistent ejection speeds, then ejection speed consistency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the auxiliary contraction phase locally only to specific drops (first and intermediate drops) rather than uniformly to all drops. The control device selectively applies adjustment waveforms based on drop position, using standard waveforms for drops where speed consistency is already achieved. This local application of the complex waveform reduces overall power consumption while maintaining ejection speed consistency where most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by applying the energy-intensive auxiliary contraction phase only to the extent necessary for optimization. Instead of applying adjustment waveforms to all drops (excessive action), the control device applies them selectively to first and intermediate drops where speed adjustment is most beneficial, then uses simpler standard waveforms for remaining drops. This partial application achieves the required ejection speed consistency while minimizing power consumption.
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
The proposed solution effectively reduces the difference in ejection speeds across multiple drops, enhancing printing performance by maintaining consistent droplet ejection, while also reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator 25 for driving an ejection of liquid from a pressure chamber 26 connected to a nozzle 211
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a liquid ejection drive device includes a drive circuit configured to apply a drive signal to an actuator for driving an ejection of a liquid from a pressure chamber connected to a nozzle. The drive signal includes a multidrop waveform with a plurality of drop waveforms each for causing one droplet to be ejected. Each drop waveform has an expansion phase, a normal phase, and a contraction phase. At least one drop waveform in the plurality of drop waveforms is an adjustment drop waveform having an auxiliary contraction phase in which contraction of the pressure chamber is less than in the (full) contraction phase. This auxiliary contraction phase is after the expansion phase but before the (full) contraction phase.