Liquid Ejection Pulse Control for Multi-Tone Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face challenges in maintaining appropriate color density differences when print speed increases, leading to inadequate multi-tone printing.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a nozzle, pressure chamber, driving element, and a controller that generates a driving signal with specific pulses - a first ejection pulse, a second ejection pulse, and a non-ejection pulse - to control the amount of liquid ejected in each unit period, ensuring balanced ink ejection for various dot sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If print speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The driving signal is segmented into multiple pulse types (first ejection pulse, second ejection pulse, non-ejection pulse) within a unit period. By selectively combining these segmented pulses, the system can precisely control ink ejection amounts to achieve multiple tones, maintaining color density precision even at high print speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and combines different pulse sequences based on the required ink ejection amount. The controller adaptively chooses from multiple pulse combination patterns (first through fourth sequences) to optimize both print speed and color density precision for different printing conditions.
2Productivity
If print speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulse sequences within unit periods to control ink ejection. By defining multiple standardized pulse sequences (first through fourth sequences) that can be periodically applied, the system ensures reliable multi-tone printing quality while maintaining high print speed through systematic pulse repetition and combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameters of the driving signal by varying pulse width, pulse interval, and pulse combination patterns. This allows precise control over ink ejection amounts for different tones while maintaining consistent printing quality at high speeds through parameter optimization.
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 solution allows for effective multi-tone printing even at increased print speeds by optimizing the ink ejection amounts, ensuring appropriate color density differences and improving print quality.
Implementation Method 1
a driving element that applies a pressure change on liquid included in the pressure chamber in accordance with a driving signal
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus is configured to drive a driving element in accordance with a driving signal applied by control of the controller. A driving signal includes a first ejection pulse for ejecting liquid, a second ejection pulse for ejecting liquid, and a non-ejection pulse for not ejecting liquid. The controller selects the first ejection pulse and the second ejection pulse to supply to the driving element, when a first amount of liquid is to be ejected from the nozzle in the unit period. The controller selects the non-ejection pulse and the second ejection pulse to supply to the driving element, when a second amount of liquid that is smaller than the first amount of liquid is to be ejected from the nozzle in the unit period. The second amount of liquid is larger than an amount of liquid ejected by only the second ejection pulse.