Print Head Maintenance Timing Based on Recording Medium Type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing recording apparatuses face challenges in determining the optimal timing for maintenance control to prevent image quality degradation due to paper fine particles adhering to the print head, as the frequency of maintenance affects usability and visibility of image degradation varies with different recording media characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A recording apparatus that includes a print head, a recovery unit, a type obtaining unit, a threshold obtaining unit, and a calculation unit to determine the maintenance timing based on the type of recording medium, using addition values and maintenance thresholds specific to each medium to perform recovery operations when a calculated count-up value exceeds the threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance control is executed frequently to prevent image quality degradation, then image quality is maintained, but usability decreases due to increased recording interruption time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of maintenance execution timing from fixed or simple count-based to dynamic timing based on accumulated paper fine particle generation amounts. By calculating and accumulating fine particle generation amounts specific to each recording medium type and comparing against thresholds, the system adapts maintenance frequency to actual contamination levels, preventing image quality degradation while minimizing unnecessary maintenance interruptions
2Reliability
If maintenance timing is set for recording media that easily show image degradation, then image quality is maintained on such media, but excessive maintenance is performed on media where degradation is hard to recognize
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by setting different maintenance thresholds and fine particle generation amounts for different recording medium types. Glossy paper, which easily shows image degradation, has lower thresholds and higher fine particle accumulation sensitivity, while plain paper, where degradation is hard to recognize, has higher thresholds. This allows optimized maintenance timing tailored to each medium's characteristics, preventing image quality issues on glossy paper without causing excessive maintenance interruptions on plain paper
Data Source
AI summary
A recording apparatus includes a print head, a recovery unit, a type obtaining unit, a threshold obtaining unit, and a calculation unit. The print head forms an image by applying a recording material to a recording medium. The recovery unit performs a recovery operation for recovering an ejection state of the print head. The type obtaining unit obtains a type of the recording medium on which the image is to be recorded. The threshold obtaining unit obtains a threshold for performing the recovery operation corresponding to the obtained type of the recording medium. The calculation unit calculates a count-up value by adding, in response to recording on the recording medium, an addition value set for each of types of recording media. The recovery operation is performed in a case where the count-up value calculated by the calculation unit exceeds the threshold obtained by the threshold obtaining unit.