Print Head Ink Circulation to Prevent Clogging Without Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies discharge ink to resolve clogging, leading to waste ink issues.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a tank, print head, cap mechanism, and circulation unit that circulates liquid through a circulation path, using a timer to manage ink ejection and reduce waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink is discharged to resolve clogging, then the print head is restored to a capable state, but waste ink occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a circulation system that recovers ink from the print head and returns it to the tank, preventing waste. The circulation unit pumps ink from the print head back to the tank, allowing the same ink to be reused rather than discarded during clogging resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation unit continuously circulates ink through the print head and back to the tank, maintaining continuous useful action. This continuous circulation ensures that ink is constantly moved through the ejection ports, preventing clogging while minimizing waste by reusing the same ink multiple times.
2Loss of energy
If the ejection port surface is capped for extended periods, then ink evaporation is reduced, but ink stagnation and clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation unit operates periodically to circulate ink through the ejection ports at predetermined time intervals. This periodic action prevents ink stagnation and clogging while minimizing evaporation losses by keeping the cap closed during non-circulation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation system serves itself by automatically detecting when circulation is needed and initiating the circulation process without external intervention. The system monitors its own state and performs maintenance circulation to prevent clogging while maintaining efficiency.
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 ink ejection without significant waste, maintaining print head functionality and reducing ink wastage.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation unit configured to circulate the liquid in a circulation path including the tank and the print head
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus including a print head having an ejection port surface with an ejection port for ejecting liquid, a printing element to generate energy for ejecting the liquid, a pressure chamber provided between the printing element and the ejection port, a first flow path in communication with the pressure chamber, and a second flow path in communication with the pressure chamber, with the liquid ejected from the ejection port through the pressure chamber, an obtaining unit to obtain information on a time during which the liquid is not ejected from the ejection port, and a circulation unit to circulate the liquid. When a time indicated by information obtained by the obtaining unit exceeds a predetermined time, the circulation unit circulates the liquid from the first flow path to the second flow path through the pressure chamber with the ejection port surface capped by a cap mechanism.