Magnetic Eddy Current Damping for Wiper Carriage Oscillations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wiper assemblies for inkjet printers experience ink spatters and fouling of printer components due to oscillations of the wiper blade when wiping over the edge of the nozzle plate, leading to contamination of surrounding components.
Innovation Solution
A wiper carriage with magnets and fins that induce eddy currents to critically dampen the oscillations of the spring member, preventing ink spatters by using a magnetic field to control and adjust the damping effect, and optionally incorporating friction or fluidic resistance for enhanced damping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper blade is pressed against the nozzle plate by a spring member to effectively remove ink residue, then the wiping effectiveness is improved, but the spring member becomes tensioned and releases suddenly after wiping over the edge, causing oscillations and ink spatters
Solution Approach 1:
A magnet is introduced as an intermediary component between the wiper blade and the surrounding environment. The magnet generates a magnetic field that acts on the oscillating spring member, providing a damping force that prevents ink spatters without interfering with the wiping function. The magnet serves as a mediator that converts mechanical oscillations into controlled magnetic interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical damping mechanisms with a magnetic field-based damping system. Instead of using mechanical friction or contact-based dampers, the invention uses a magnet to create a magnetic field that interacts with the oscillating spring member, providing non-contact damping that eliminates ink spatters while maintaining wiping effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the wiper blade wipes over the edge of the nozzle plate to avoid ink droplets and spatters, then cleaning completeness is improved, but the spring member tension is suddenly released causing oscillations and fouling of surrounding components
Solution Approach 1:
The magnet acts as an intermediary that provides continuous damping force during the wiping motion, especially when the wiper blade moves over the edge of the nozzle plate. This magnetic damping prevents the sudden release of spring tension that would otherwise cause oscillations and spread ink to surrounding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field provides preliminary damping action before the spring member can release its tension suddenly. By having the magnet in position ahead of time, the system prepares the spring member for the upcoming edge transition, reducing the impact and preventing oscillations that would lead to fouling.
3Device complexity
If a conventional spring member is used to press the wiper blade against the nozzle plate, then the wiper assembly is simple in structure, but oscillations occur after wiping over the edge causing ink spatters
Solution Approach 1:
A magnet is added as a relatively simple intermediary component to the existing spring-based wiper assembly. This addition introduces magnetic damping without significantly complicating the overall structure, as the magnet can be positioned to interact with the spring member's oscillations without requiring complex mechanical linkages or additional active components.
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 solution effectively prevents ink spatters and fouling of surrounding components by ensuring the wiper blade comes to a standstill without changing direction after leaving the nozzle plate edge, maintaining cleanliness and reducing contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
oscillations of the wiper blade element cause the at least one magnet to induce electrical currents, in particular eddy currents, in the at least one fin such that said oscillations from the spring member of the wiper blade element are damped
Implementation Method 2
oscillations of the wiper blade element cause the at least one magnet to induce electrical currents, in particular eddy currents, in the at least one fin
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A carriage (16) for a wiper assembly (10) for a print head of an inkjet printer, comprising: a wiper blade element (13) comprising a wiper blade (12) for wiping the print head of the inkjet printer; and a spring member (11); wherein the wiper blade element (13) is attached to the rest of the carriage (16) by means of the spring member (11); characterized in that the carriage (16) comprises at least one fin (15) attached to the wiper blade element (13) and at least one magnet (14); the at least one fin (15) is made of an electrically conducting material; and the at least one fin (15) is positioned adjacent at a distance from the at least one magnet (14), such that oscillations (32) of the wiper blade element (13) at the spring member (11) with respect to the at least one magnet (14) cause the at least one magnet (14) to induce electrical currents in the at least one fin (15) in order to dampen said oscillations (32).