Negative-Pressure Regulation Valve for Clean Inkjet Nozzle Purging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet recording apparatuses face challenges in maintaining consistent ink ejection states to ensure high print quality, particularly during suction purge processes that can introduce bubbles and solid matter into the nozzles, leading to misfiring and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a negative pressure regulation valve with dual outflow paths and a movable valve member to manage pressure differentials, ensuring efficient discharge of air and solid matter during suction purge processes, thereby preventing nozzle contamination and maintaining ink flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a suction purge process is performed to clean the nozzles, then ink ejection reliability is improved, but bubbles and solid matter are introduced into the nozzles causing misfiring
Solution Approach 1:
The outflow path is divided into two separate paths: a first outflow path for discharging ink and a second outflow path for discharging air and solid matter. This segmentation allows the suction purge process to remove contaminants without introducing them into the nozzle, while still maintaining the cleaning effect on the ink ejection system.
Solution Approach 2:
A negative pressure regulation valve is introduced as an intermediary device between the ink container and the nozzle. This valve includes an inflow-side pressure chamber, an outflow-side pressure chamber, and a movable valve member that responds to pressure differentials. The valve member selectively opens and closes communication holes to control ink flow and prevent bubble and solid matter entry into the nozzle during suction purge operations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pressure regulation is implemented to maintain ink flow, then ink ejection consistency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The negative pressure regulation valve is designed to automatically respond to pressure differentials between the ink container and the nozzle. The movable valve member moves in accordance with pressure changes, selectively opening and closing communication holes without requiring external control mechanisms. This self-regulating design maintains ink ejection consistency while minimizing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The negative pressure regulation valve performs multiple functions: it regulates ink flow, prevents bubble entry, prevents solid matter accumulation, and enables the suction purge process. By integrating these functions into a single device with a movable valve member and multiple communication holes, the patent achieves ink ejection consistency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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 bubble entry and solid matter accumulation in nozzles, enhancing print quality and efficiency by ensuring reliable ink ejection and reducing the risk of misfires.
Implementation Method 1
The suction pump sucks air from an inside of the cap... a suction purge process in which the suction pump sucks air from the inside of the sealed space
Implementation Method 2
The valve member is inserted in the communication hole and movable, in accordance with change of pressure inside the outflow-side pressure chamber, to a closing position for closing the communication hole and an opening position for opening the communication hole
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink container, one or more recording heads, an ink flow path, a negative pressure regulation valve, a cap, a suction pump, and a waste ink discharge path. The negative pressure regulation valve includes an inflow-side pressure chamber, an outflow-side pressure chamber, a communication hole, a first outflow hole and a second outflow hole respectively formed in the outflow-side pressure chamber so as to be below and above the communication hole, and respectively communicating with the first outflow path and the second outflow path, and a valve member that opens and closes the communication hole. The first outflow path communicates with the recording heads. The second outflow path communicates with an inside of the cap or a waste ink discharge path, and is provided with an opening/closing valve.