Print Head Exchange Detection Circuit for Inkjet Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers with exchangeable heads require exchanging both the head and drive circuit, leading to increased costs and complexity, making reliable and easy head replacement challenging.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging apparatus with an exchangeable print head and a detection circuit on a separate wiring substrate, allowing for precise detection of head exchangeability and easy attachment/detachment via connectors, reducing the need to exchange the drive circuit and simplifying the head replacement process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the head and drive circuit are included in the same exchangeable head unit, then the structure is integrated and compact, but the cost increases and the structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the head unit into separate components: the print head (discharge unit) and the drive circuit are separated and can be exchanged independently. The print head is made exchangeable while the drive circuit remains fixed in the printer body, allowing users to replace only the consumable print head without replacing the expensive drive circuit board.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive circuit is extracted from the exchangeable head unit and fixed in the printer body. This allows the head to be exchanged without the drive circuit, reducing the complexity and cost of the exchangeable component while maintaining full functionality through the fixed drive circuit.
2Reliability
If the head and drive circuit are exchanged together as a unit, then reliability of the exchange system is simplified, but the cost increases and ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the exchangeable component to include only the print head and not the drive circuit, the invention simplifies the exchange operation for users while maintaining system reliability through the fixed drive circuit that remains in the printer body.
3Measurement precision
If the detection circuit is integrated into the print head, then detection precision is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection circuit is merged with the fixed wiring substrate in the printer body rather than being integrated into the exchangeable print head. This maintains detection precision while reducing the complexity of the print head structure and lowering costs.
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
Enables reliable and easy head exchange by detecting exchangeability and simplifying the attachment/detachment process, reducing the complexity and cost of head replacement while minimizing residual voltage issues.
Implementation Method 1
a detection circuit which detects that exchanging of the print head is possible
Implementation Method 2
uses piezoelectric elements that discharges an ink to print images and text. The piezoelectric elements are provided to correspond to each of a plurality of nozzles in a head (the print head) and each is driven according to a drive signal
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharging apparatus capable of performing printing on a medium having a short-side width of A3 or greater, the apparatus including a head unit which includes an exchangeable print head including a discharge unit that discharges a liquid through driving of a drive element, a detection circuit which detects that exchanging of the print head is possible, and a wiring substrate which is provided with a connector and is electrically connected to the print head via the connector, a drive circuit which outputs a drive signal for driving the drive element, and a cable which is connected to the wiring substrate and transfers the drive signal to the print head.