Orthogonal Lifting Mechanism for Inkjet Head Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet type recording apparatuses face challenges in size increase and positional accuracy due to the placement of lifting-lowering mechanisms, leading to tilting and inaccurate ink droplet placement on the ejection target medium.
Innovation Solution
The lifting-lowering mechanisms are positioned orthogonally to the alignment direction of the liquid ejecting heads, with a unit base supported by multiple bearings and a tilt adjusting mechanism, allowing for precise positioning and reduced size in the alignment direction, and incorporating an eccentric cam and rotary shaft for simplified structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lifting-lowering mechanisms are disposed on both sides in the alignment direction of the ink jet type recording heads, then the ink jet type recording head unit can be lifted and lowered, but the ink jet type recording apparatus is more increased in size in the alignment direction of the ink jet type recording heads
Solution Approach 1:
The lifting-lowering mechanism is repositioned from the alignment direction (longitudinal direction of the head unit) to the width direction (lateral direction), allowing the mechanism to function without increasing the apparatus length in the alignment direction. This dimensional repositioning resolves the contradiction by maintaining lifting capability while reducing apparatus size in the critical alignment direction.
2Ease of operation
If the eccentric cam provided on the apparatus main body side comes into contact with the driven cam provided on the ink jet type recording head unit side, then the ink jet type recording head unit can be lifted and lowered, but it is not possible to position a nozzle-formed surface with high accuracy due to dimensional tolerance of components, positional shifts of components
Solution Approach 1:
The cam-based mechanical lifting mechanism is replaced with a linear motor-driven direct drive system. The linear motor provides precise positional control through electrical control, eliminating the cumulative errors from cam eccentricity, dimensional tolerances, and component wear. This substitution of mechanical transmission with direct electromagnetic actuation resolves the positioning accuracy issue while maintaining lifting capability.
3Measurement precision
If it is possible to lift and lower the ink jet type recording head unit with respect to a shaft, then the head unit can be positioned, but the ink jet type recording head unit tilts in a direction inclined to a lifting-lowering direction with respect to the shaft, and thereby ink droplets lands at a shifted position on an ejection target medium
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft-based lifting mechanism is replaced with a linear motor-driven direct lift system. The linear motor provides vertically aligned force application, eliminating the tilting moment that occurs with shaft-based mechanisms. This direct drive approach ensures the head unit moves purely in the vertical direction without rotation or tilt, maintaining both positioning capability and droplet placement accuracy.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple lifting-lowering mechanisms are added to improve positioning accuracy, then positioning accuracy can be enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple complex mechanical lifting mechanisms are replaced with a single linear motor-driven system. The linear motor's inherent precision and direct drive capability eliminate the need for multiple mechanisms, cam pairs, or shaft assemblies. This substitution reduces device complexity significantly while achieving superior positioning accuracy through electrical control and direct force application.
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 reduces the size of the liquid ejecting apparatus in the alignment direction, enhances positional accuracy, and minimizes tilting, resulting in improved print quality by accurately positioning the nozzle-formed surface.
Implementation Method 1
a lifting-lowering mechanism including a rotary shaft that is rotated about an axis in the third direction, an eccentric cam that is rotated together with the rotary shaft, and a head unit that is lifted and lowered in the third direction by the eccentric cam
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: an apparatus main body; a plurality of liquid ejecting heads that have a nozzle-formed surface; a unit base to which the plurality of liquid ejecting heads are fixed; and a lifting-lowering mechanism that is fixed to the apparatus main body and causes a position of the nozzle-formed surface to be shifted with respect to the apparatus main body. The lifting-lowering mechanisms are disposed in a direction orthogonal to a direction in which the plurality of liquid ejecting heads are aligned, in an in-plane direction of the nozzle-formed surface.