Liquid Ejection Device Nozzle Flushing and Testing Integration

Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid ejection devices like printers, the existing practice of scanning nozzles one at a time for ejection testing after flushing leads to wasteful consumption of liquid, as flushing operations are repeated if recovery is insufficient.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejection device with a controller that performs ejection testing of nozzles during the flushing operation and terminates the flushing if the test results are normal, reducing liquid consumption by integrating ejection testing into the flushing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ejection testing is performed after flushing is completed, then nozzle functionality can be verified, but liquid consumption increases due to repeated flushing operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle functionalityVSAvoidliquid consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing ejection testing during the flushing operation itself, before the flushing is completed. The controller interrupts the flushing operation to perform ejection testing when residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element is detected, thereby verifying nozzle functionality beforehand and avoiding unnecessary repeated flushing operations that would waste liquid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the residual oscillation detection to determine whether to continue flushing or terminate it. The controller monitors the residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element and uses this information to decide whether the nozzle is functioning properly, allowing the flushing operation to be terminated early when testing is successful, thus reducing liquid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If flushing operation is repeated until recovery is sufficient, then nozzle ejection capability is restored, but liquid consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveejection capabilityVSAvoidliquid consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing ejection testing during the flushing operation itself, before the flushing is completed. The controller interrupts the flushing operation to perform ejection testing when residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element is detected, thereby verifying nozzle functionality beforehand and avoiding unnecessary repeated flushing operations that would waste liquid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the residual oscillation detection to determine whether to continue flushing or terminate it. The controller monitors the residual oscillation of the piezoelectric element and uses this information to decide whether the nozzle is functioning properly, allowing the flushing operation to be terminated early when testing is successful, thus reducing liquid consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If ejection testing is performed separately after flushing, then nozzle status can be confirmed, but time is wasted due to sequential operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle status verificationVSAvoidoperation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the ejection testing function with the flushing operation. Instead of performing testing separately after flushing, the controller integrates testing into the flushing process by detecting residual oscillation during the flushing operation itself, thereby verifying nozzle status without requiring additional separate time for testing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuity of useful action by performing ejection testing during the flushing operation rather than waiting for it to complete. The controller interrupts flushing to perform testing when residual oscillation is detected, ensuring that both flushing and testing occur continuously without idle time between operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 approach reduces liquid consumption associated with flushing by integrating ejection testing into the flushing operation, optimizing the process to terminate flushing when nozzles are found to be functioning correctly.

Implementation Method 1

it has been proposed to sense residual oscillation of the piezoelectric elements, and to perform testing of ejection of the liquid based on the residual oscillation thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS8444247B2Liquid ejection device and liquid testing method

Publication Date: 2013.05.21 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejection device includes a plurality of nozzles, an ejection testing portion and a controller. The nozzles are arranged to eject a liquid. The ejection testing portion is arranged to perform ejection testing of the liquid from each of the nozzles. The controller is arranged to eject the liquid from the nozzles to print an image onto a medium, and to perform a flushing operation when printing on the medium is not being performed. The ejection testing portion is arranged to perform the ejection testing of each of the nozzles during the flushing operation. The controller is arranged to terminate the flushing operation in midcourse when results of the ejection testing for the nozzles are normal.