Selective Flushing for Print Head Ink Passage Sedimentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Print devices with complex ink passage configurations face challenges in maintaining ink fluidity, leading to potential clogging and deterioration in print quality due to sedimentation of pigment particles, especially with high-specific-gravity inks like titanium oxide.
Innovation Solution
A print device with a head portion featuring nozzle arrays and interconnected liquid passages, where a controller performs selective flushing operations to improve ink fluidity by ejecting waste liquid from specific passages while stopping others, thereby reducing sedimentation and maintaining print quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a communication path is provided via which ends of a plurality of ink passages are interconnected, then ink supply to nozzles is improved, but ink fluidity deteriorates and pigment sedimentation occurs leading to clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The ink passages are divided into multiple independent groups, each with its own supply passage and communication path configuration. By segmenting the ink passage system, the patent prevents pigment sedimentation from affecting the entire system while maintaining reliable ink supply to each nozzle group independently
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the ink passage system are provided with different structures - some regions have communication paths while others have independent supply passages without communication paths. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain ink fluidity in critical regions while providing redundancy in other regions
2Object-generated harmful factors
If flushing operation is performed on all nozzles simultaneously, then ink fluidity is improved throughout the system, but waste liquid consumption and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flushing operation is divided into multiple phases, with different nozzle groups being flushed at different times. This segmented flushing approach reduces the total amount of waste liquid required while ensuring that all nozzles receive adequate flushing to maintain ink fluidity
Solution Approach 2:
The flushing operation is performed periodically on different nozzle groups in a cyclic manner. This periodic action ensures that all nozzles receive regular flushing to prevent ink stagnation while optimizing waste liquid consumption by not flushing all nozzles simultaneously
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
The selective flushing method enhances ink fluidity within the passages, inhibits pigment sedimentation, and reduces the likelihood of clogging, thereby improving print quality and extending the operational lifespan of the print device.
Implementation Method 1
The set of liquid passages is provided to supply the liquid to the nozzle arrangement. The liquid passages are arranged in the first direction. The nozzles in each one of the nozzle arrays are connected to a corresponding one of the liquid passages.
Implementation Method 2
The controller is configured to control a flushing operation of the head portion. The flushing operation is an operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzles as waste liquid. The selective flushing operation is an operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzles corresponding to a part, being at least one of the liquid passages, of the set of liquid passages
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle arrangement has nozzle arrays arranged in a first direction. Liquid passages are interconnected via a communication path and arranged in the first direction. Nozzles in each one of the nozzle arrays are connected to a corresponding one of the liquid passages. Each of the liquid passages has a first end connected to a supply port and a second end connected to the communication path, in a second direction. The controller controls a flushing operation ejecting liquid from the nozzles as waste liquid. The controller controls the head portion to perform a selective flushing operation. The selective flushing operation is an operation of ejecting the liquid from the nozzles corresponding to a part, being at least one of the liquid passages, of a set of liquid passages while stopping ejection of the liquid from the nozzles corresponding to a remaining part of the set of liquid passages.