Liquid Jet Head Cap Swing Mechanism to Prevent Seal Ink Adhesion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Ink adhesion to the seal member during the capping process in liquid jet heads leads to misalignment and potential damage, especially when the nozzle surface is purged, causing quality issues in printed matter and device failure.
Innovation Solution
A cap device with a seal member support mechanism that allows the seal member to move in a specific pattern relative to the liquid jet head, avoiding contact with the nozzle surface by moving the seal member twice the distance in one direction when the head is moved in the opposite direction, using a swing member and biasing mechanism to maintain separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the nozzle surface is separated from the cap during purge operation, then ink adhesion to the nozzle surface is suppressed, but ink may still adhere to the seal member and enter gaps between head modules
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member is designed to dynamically change its contact state with the liquid jet head based on the operational phase. During purge operations, the seal member is separated from the liquid jet head to prevent ink adhesion. During moisturizing operations, the seal member contacts the liquid jet head to seal the moisturizing solution. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the seal member's position adaptive to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member is preliminarily positioned in a separated state before purge operations begin, preventing ink adhesion to the seal member from the outset. The seal member support mechanism ensures that the seal member is already in the correct position (separated or contacted) before the actual purge or moisturizing action occurs, preventing harmful ink adhesion while maintaining position adjustment capability.
2Reliability
If the seal member is kept in contact with the liquid jet head to seal moisturizing solution, then moisturizing function is improved, but ink adhesion to the seal member during purge causes jet abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member's contact state with the liquid jet head is dynamically controlled based on operational phase. During moisturizing, the seal member contacts the liquid jet head to seal the moisturizing solution in the cap. During purge, the seal member is separated to prevent ink adhesion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the seal member's position dependent on the current operation type.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member support mechanism acts as an intermediary between the seal member and the liquid jet head, controlling their relative positions. This intermediary mechanism enables the seal member to be precisely positioned in either contact or separated state, facilitating the transition between moisturizing and purge functions while preventing harmful ink adhesion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the seal member is movable to avoid ink adhesion, then ink adhesion is suppressed, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The seal member support mechanism is designed to automatically adjust the seal member's position based on the operational phase without requiring complex external control systems. The mechanism uses the existing motion of the liquid jet head (raising/lowering) to drive the seal member between contact and separated states, making the system self-regulating and reducing overall complexity despite the added movability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure may suppress adhesion of a liquid to a seal member used for moisturizing a nozzle surface. A seal member that is brought into contact with a seal position of a liquid jet head, a seal member support mechanism that supports the seal member to be movable and includes a swing member that supports the seal member to be swingable about a swing shaft extending along a first direction are provided, and in a case in which the seal member is moved in a second direction and a fourth direction as the liquid jet head of which a lower surface abuts on a head abutting position defined in the swing member moves in a third direction, the seal member is moved in a fourth direction by a distance, which is at least twice a moving distance in the second direction, and separated from the seal position.