Liquid Ejection Apparatus Humid Air Control for Ink Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
The concentration of non-volatile components in the water tank of a liquid ejection apparatus increases over time, leading to decreased humidification performance, causing ink near the nozzles to dry out, which requires increased ink discharge to recover, and affects image quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a humid-air supplier, an indicator to monitor the concentration of non-volatile components, and a controller that adjusts the humid-air supply amount and water content to maintain optimal humidification levels, preventing ink drying and ensuring consistent performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If humidification is performed using a water tank containing non-volatile components (e.g., preservatives), then humidification function is provided to prevent ink drying, but the non-volatile components accumulate over time reducing humidification performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a concentration detection unit to monitor the concentration of non-volatile components in the water tank and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the humidification operation or triggers replacement notifications, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains optimal humidification performance throughout the water tank's usage life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on the concentration of non-volatile components. When concentration increases, the control unit adjusts humidification parameters (such as humidification time, temperature, or air flow rate) to compensate for reduced performance, or switches to a different operational mode to maintain effective ink moisture prevention.
2Reliability
If the concentration of non-volatile components increases in the water tank, then humidification effectiveness decreases, but continuing to use the same water leads to ink drying near nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The concentration detection unit continuously monitors the water quality and provides feedback to the control unit. When non-volatile component concentration reaches levels that would cause ink drying, the system automatically responds by adjusting humidification parameters or notifying the user to replace the water, preventing ink drying before it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of non-volatile component concentration and takes preventive action before ink drying occurs. By monitoring water quality in advance and triggering humidification adjustments or replacement notifications proactively, the system prevents the harmful effect of ink drying rather than responding after damage occurs.
3Ease of operation
If water is continuously used for humidification without replacement, then operational simplicity is maintained, but humidification performance deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains ease of continuous operation while monitoring water quality through the concentration detection unit. The automatic feedback mechanism adjusts humidification parameters or sends replacement notifications based on detected concentration levels, allowing the system to operate continuously without manual intervention while maintaining performance through automated corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment regarding water quality. The concentration detection unit and control unit work together to automatically manage humidification performance without requiring user knowledge or intervention, making the system self-sufficient in maintaining optimal operation until water replacement becomes necessary.
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 apparatus effectively suppresses ink drying near the ejection openings by increasing humid-air supply with rising non-volatile component concentrations, maintaining image quality and reducing ink discharge needs.
Implementation Method 1
humid air humidified by the humidification liquid is supplied into a space located in a vicinity of the ejection face
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus includes: a head having an ejection face; a humid-air supplier including a storage portion for storing humidification liquid containing water and a non-volatile component and configured to perform a humidifying operation in which humid air humidified by the humidification liquid is supplied into a space near the ejection face; and an indicator obtainer configured to obtain an indicator indicating a concentration of the non-volatile component in the humidification liquid in the storage portion. The humidifying operation is performed after the ejection space is switched to the sealed state. An amount of the humid air and/or an amount of water of the humid air to be supplied in the humidifying operation is increased with increase in the concentration indicated by the indicator.