Nozzle Opening Layout to Prevent Secondary Staining During Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge apparatuses face issues with secondary staining of nozzle opening faces during cleaning due to residual liquid flowing in the gravity direction, leading to reduced cleanability and potential discharge problems.
Innovation Solution
The liquid discharge apparatus is designed with nozzles arranged such that adjacent nozzles in the gravity direction do not overlap, and the nozzle plate is fixed in a perpendicular orientation during cleaning, ensuring cleaning liquid and air flow directions are orthogonal to gravity, preventing residual liquid from accumulating and solidifying on the nozzle surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the nozzle opening face is disposed in an inclined state during cleaning, then the cleaning process can access the nozzle surface, but residual liquid flows along the nozzle opening face in the gravity direction causing secondary staining
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of inclining the nozzle opening face during cleaning (conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by keeping the nozzle plate horizontal and inclining the cleaner body. This reversal prevents residual liquid from flowing down the nozzle surface under gravity, thereby eliminating secondary staining while maintaining effective cleaning contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning approach from a single-dimensional inclination of the nozzle plate to a multi-dimensional configuration where the cleaner body itself is inclined relative to the horizontal nozzle plate. This dimensional change allows the cleaning cloth to contact the nozzle surface effectively while the residual liquid flows away from the nozzle opening face in a different trajectory
2Ease of operation
If cleaning liquid is applied to the inclined nozzle opening face, then cleaning action is achieved, but the cleaning liquid and residual liquid accumulate and flow downward causing staining
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional cleaning configuration by keeping the nozzle plate horizontal rather than inclined. This inversion ensures that cleaning liquid applied to the nozzle surface does not accumulate and flow downward along the nozzle opening face, preventing secondary staining while maintaining cleaning effectiveness through the inclined cleaner body design
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the nozzle plate is kept horizontal during cleaning, then liquid flow along the nozzle surface is minimized, but the cleaner must be designed with specific inclination to maintain effective contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the complexity issue by transferring the inclination from the nozzle plate (simple horizontal position) to the cleaner body. The cleaner is designed with a specific inclination angle relative to the horizontal nozzle plate, allowing effective contact while the horizontal nozzle plate prevents harmful liquid flow. This dimensional redistribution of the inclination function maintains simplicity in the nozzle system while achieving the cleaning objective
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 configuration enhances the cleanability of the nozzle opening face, reducing secondary staining and maintaining discharge performance by effectively removing residual liquid, thereby preventing discharge bending and non-discharge issues.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaner that contacts the nozzle opening face to clean the nozzle opening face
Implementation Method 2
cleaning liquid including residual liquid flows along the nozzle opening face in the gravity direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a plurality of liquid discharge nozzles (102), a housing (110), and a support. The plurality of liquid discharge nozzles discharges liquid. The housing includes the plurality of liquid discharge nozzles and an opening array face in which a plurality of nozzle rows are arranged. A plurality of nozzle openings of the plurality of liquid discharge nozzles are arranged in the plurality of nozzle rows. The support supports the housing, to fix the housing in a cleaning posture that is a fixed posture of the housing when the opening array face is cleaned. The opening array face has the plurality of nozzle openings at positions where the plurality of nozzle openings do not overlap each other in a gravity direction of the housing when the housing is fixed in the cleaning posture.