Movable Flushing Box Lid Mechanism for Compact Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printers face space constraints and ink evaporation issues due to the fixed position of the flushing box, which increases the printer's dimensions and allows ink to dry, causing nozzle clogging.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection apparatus with a movable flushing box that can switch between a receiving position for ink collection and a non-receiving position, where the opening is closed by a lid body, preventing evaporation and reducing the printer's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the flushing box is fixed in the flushing area opposed to the cap member, then the ink can be received and absorbed, but the printer's dimension increases and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing box is made movable between a flushing position (opposed to the cap member for ink reception) and a non-flushing position (retracted to save space). This dynamic repositioning allows the system to achieve both reliable ink reception during flushing operations and compact dimensions during normal printing operations, resolving the contradiction between reliability and volume.
2Ease of operation
If the flushing box opening is left open for ink reception, then ink can be easily collected, but ink evaporation occurs causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The lid body is made slidable between a closing position (covering the opening to prevent evaporation) and a non-closing position (allowing ink reception). During flushing operations, the lid is positioned to allow ink collection; during storage or idle periods, it closes to prevent solvent evaporation and subsequent nozzle clogging, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid body acts as an intermediary element between the flushing box opening and the external environment. It selectively controls access to the opening, allowing ink reception when needed while blocking evaporation when the flushing box is not in use, thereby mediating between the conflicting requirements of ease of operation and prevention of ink evaporation.
3Ease of operation
If the carriage moves to press the lid body separately from the printing area, then the lid can be opened for flushing, but the printer's dimension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid opening function is merged with the carriage's existing movement capability. The carriage, which already moves horizontally for printing operations, is utilized to also press and open the lid body during flushing operations. This eliminates the need for a separate actuating mechanism and additional space, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and compact dimensions by combining multiple functions into a single moving component.
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 saves space by eliminating the need for a fixed flushing area, suppresses ink evaporation, and maintains printer efficiency by allowing the flushing box to move perpendicular to the carriage's direction, thus reducing the printer's overall size and preventing nozzle clogging.
Implementation Method 1
the ink containing solvent that easily evaporates, such as pigment ink, is employed. In these cases, the ink solidifies through evaporation of the solvent
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection apparatus including a liquid ejection head, a liquid receiver, a liquid receiver movement mechanism, and a lid body is provided. The liquid ejection head has a nozzle surface. The nozzle surface includes a nozzle opening. The liquid ejection head ejects a liquid from the nozzle surface. The liquid receiver has an opening provided in correspondence with the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head. The liquid receiver is capable of receiving the liquid ejected as a waste liquid from the nozzle opening of the liquid ejection head through the opening of the liquid receiver. The liquid receiver movement mechanism moves the liquid receiver between a receiving position at which the opening of the liquid receiver opposes the nozzle surface of the liquid ejection head and a non-receiving position spaced from the receiving position. The lid body is arranged at the non-receiving position. The lid body contacts the liquid receiver in such a manner as to close the opening of the liquid receiver after the liquid receiver is moved to the non-receiving position by the liquid receiver movement mechanism.