Print Bar Height Adjustment for Consistent Cleaning Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printing devices face challenges in reliably cleaning print heads due to fouling and drying of ink, leading to degraded print quality and nozzle failures, as existing cleaning methods lack consistency and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for adjusting the print bar height using a cleaning sled with sensor units to determine and adjust clearance between the sled and the print bar, ensuring consistent contact and force across the cleaning direction, thereby enhancing cleaning quality and preventing nozzle damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the cleaning sled is moved along the cleaning direction to clean the print heads, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the clearance consistency between the sled and print bar deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The print bar height is made adjustable through alignment elements that can be modified during operation. The system dynamically adjusts the print bar height to compensate for variations in clearance along the cleaning direction, ensuring consistent contact pressure across all print heads while maintaining full cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensor units are integrated into the cleaning sled to detect clearance variations between the sled and print bar at multiple measurement points. This feedback information is used to control the adjustment of the print bar height, creating a closed-loop system that maintains consistent clearance and contact force throughout the cleaning process.
2Reliability
If the print bar height is adjusted to improve cleaning contact, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the complexity of the adjustment mechanism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of the print bar height based on feedback from sensor units. The alignment elements are automatically modified to achieve optimal clearance without requiring manual intervention or complex external adjustment mechanisms, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high cleaning effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the cleaning force is increased to remove dried ink, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the risk of nozzle damage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the cleaning parameters by dynamically adjusting the print bar height to achieve consistent contact force. This controlled adjustment ensures sufficient pressure to remove dried ink while preventing excessive force that could damage the nozzles, maintaining a balance between cleaning effectiveness and component protection.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a device for adjusting the height of a print bar of an inkjet printing device. The printing device has a cleaning sled for cleaning the one or more print heads of the print bar. A controller including a processor is configured to determine, using a sensor unit, clearance information with regard to the clearance between the cleaning sled and the print bar at different measurement points, and to adjust the height of the print bar depending on the determined clearance information. A precise adjustment of the print bar can thus be effected for a qualitatively high-grade and gentle cleaning.