Print Head Maintenance Assembly Positioning Flag Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Printing devices face challenges in maintaining image quality due to clogged print head nozzles, requiring regular cleaning which can be hindered by unknown or incorrect positioning of maintenance cartridges, potentially leading to damage or inefficiency during the cleaning process.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a maintenance cartridge with positioning flags and sensors to accurately determine the cartridge's position along a maintenance path, using optical, electric, or magnetic sensors to detect flags and ensure safe and effective cleaning operations, and employing status flags to monitor the maintenance cartridge's status and subsystems for optimal functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If maintenance cartridge position is not accurately determined, then cleaning operations cannot be performed, but adding positioning systems increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning operation reliabilityVSAvoidpositioning system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with optical sensors and magnetic fields. The maintenance cartridge includes a magnetic component that interacts with an optical sensor to determine position, eliminating the need for complex mechanical encoders or switches while achieving reliable positioning for cleaning operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a magnetic component as an intermediary between the maintenance cartridge and the optical sensor. This magnetic intermediary enables non-contact position detection, allowing the system to determine cartridge position without direct mechanical contact or complex positioning mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If maintenance cartridge is moved manually when switched off, then positioning may be lost, but adding sensors to detect position increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition information lossVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical position tracking systems with an optical sensor-based detection system. The sensor detects the magnetic component on the maintenance cartridge to determine its position, providing a simpler, more reliable method to recover position information after manual movement without complex mechanical encoders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The maintenance cartridge includes an integrated magnetic component that enables its own position detection. This self-service approach allows the cartridge to provide its own positioning information to the system, eliminating the need for external complex positioning infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If cleaning operations are performed without accurate positioning, then image quality deteriorates, but implementing precise positioning increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle cleaning precisionVSAvoidpositioning system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical positioning systems with an optical sensor and magnetic component combination. This enables precise determination of the maintenance cartridge position relative to the print head, ensuring accurate cleaning operations without the complexity of mechanical encoders or precision mechanical guides.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

Ensures precise positioning and status monitoring of maintenance cartridges, preventing damage and ensuring effective cleaning operations, thereby maintaining image quality and extending the lifespan of print heads.

Implementation Method 1

using optical, electric, or magnetic sensors to detect flags

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

using optical, electric, or magnetic sensors to detect flags

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS11446942B2Print head maintenance assembly

Publication Date: 2022.09.20 HEWLETT PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LP

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a print head maintenance assembly, a printing device and a method of controlling a print head maintenance assembly in a printing device. The print head maintenance assembly comprises a maintenance cartridge comprising a positioning flag, wherein the maintenance cartridge is movable along a maintenance path in a direction of movement; and a sensor to detect the positioning flag to determine the position of the maintenance cartridge along the maintenance path.