Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Nozzle Maintenance via Intermediary Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as printers, face challenges in maintaining ejection performance due to pressure fluctuations and foreign matter or air bubbles entering the nozzles during the purging process, which can lead to clogging and reduced printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method that includes a plate-shaped member with an upper end portion dimension equal to or larger than the nozzle row, where the liquid bulging from the nozzle is brought into contact with the upper end portion in a gravity direction without moving the nozzle and plate-shaped member, maintaining contact for a predetermined time, followed by a wiping operation along the nozzle surface to reduce pressure fluctuations and remove foreign matter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the skimmer is moved along the surface of the printer head to avoid contact, then the printer head is protected from damage, but pressure fluctuation occurs in the liquid causing liquid to be drawn into the liquid ejecting portion
Solution Approach 1:
A liquid receiving portion is introduced as an intermediary component between the printer head and the skimmer. This receiving portion captures the liquid bulging from the nozzle, allowing the skimmer to contact the liquid without directly contacting the printer head. This resolves the contradiction by protecting the printer head while maintaining stable liquid ejection performance.
2Reliability
If the plate-shaped member contacts the liquid bulging from the nozzle, then foreign matter and air bubbles are removed, but the liquid may be drawn into the liquid ejecting portion due to pressure fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid receiving portion serves as a mediator that captures the liquid bulging from the nozzle before it contacts the plate-shaped member. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between the plate-shaped member and the liquid, eliminating pressure fluctuations that would cause liquid to be drawn into the ejecting portion, while still allowing foreign matter and air bubbles to be removed.
3Loss of substance
If the skimmer contacts the ink droplets hung down from the nozzle surface, then the ink is removed, but pressure fluctuation occurs causing liquid to be drawn into the nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid receiving portion is positioned to receive the liquid bulging from the nozzle, serving as an intermediary that prevents the skimmer from directly contacting the ink droplets. This allows ink to be removed effectively while preventing the pressure fluctuations that would cause liquid to be drawn into the nozzle, thus maintaining ejection performance.
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 approach reduces pressure fluctuations and effectively removes foreign matter and air bubbles, enhancing the ejection performance and maintaining the quality of the printing process by ensuring the liquid is not drawn into the nozzle during the contact and wiping operations.
Implementation Method 1
bringing the liquid bulging from the nozzle into contact with the upper end portion so that a direction in which the liquid bulging from the nozzle is brought closer to the upper end portion is a gravity direction
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting portion configured to eject a liquid from a plurality of nozzles that are arranged on a nozzle surface to form a nozzle row; a plate-shaped member having an upper end portion of which a dimension in a direction in which the nozzle row extends is equal to or larger than that of the nozzle row; a wiping member configured to wipe the nozzle surface; and a control portion performing a contact operation of bringing the liquid bulging from the nozzle into contact with the upper end portion, and performing a wiping operation of wiping the nozzle surface after the contact operation by relatively moving the wiping member and the liquid ejecting portion in a wiping direction along the nozzle surface.