Printer Cap Cleaning Flow to Prevent Nozzle Maintenance Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maintenance mechanisms in printers face challenges in effectively supplying a cleaning liquid to a cap without clogging due to ink component fixation, leading to decreased nozzle performance and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance device with a cap, suction device, waste liquid storage, cleaning liquid storage, and channels that allow for simultaneous suction and automatic cleaning liquid supply without mixing, using pressure differentials to prevent ink adhesion and clog formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning liquid is supplied to the cap using existing maintenance mechanisms, then the cap should be cleaned, but ink component fixation causes clogging of the cap and waste liquid channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the suction operation and cleaning liquid supply operation into a single integrated process. The suction device simultaneously removes waste liquid from the cap while the cleaning liquid storage supplies cleaning liquid to the cap through coordinated channels, preventing ink component fixation and clogging by maintaining continuous liquid flow without interruption or mixing of waste and cleaning liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the liquid pathways into separate waste liquid channels and cleaning liquid channels that do not mix. The waste liquid storage and cleaning liquid storage are independently connected to the cap through dedicated channels, allowing independent control and flow management of each liquid type, thereby preventing contamination and clogging from mixed liquids.
2Reliability
If cleaning liquid is supplied to the cap, then cleaning effectiveness should improve, but mixing with waste liquid reduces cleaning efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid management system into separate waste liquid and cleaning liquid pathways. The waste liquid channel connects the cap to the waste liquid storage, while the cleaning liquid channel connects the cleaning liquid storage to the cap. This segmentation prevents mixing between waste liquid and cleaning liquid, ensuring cleaning liquid effectiveness is maintained without contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the cap as an intermediary element that receives cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid storage and separately discharges waste liquid to the waste liquid storage. The cap's dual-channel connection allows it to mediate between the two liquid systems without allowing them to mix, maintaining the purity and effectiveness of the cleaning liquid.
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
Prevents clogging of the cap and waste liquid channels by concurrently supplying cleaning liquid, maintaining nozzle functionality and improving image quality through efficient maintenance operations.
Implementation Method 1
using pressure differentials to prevent ink adhesion and clog formation
Data Source
AI summary
A maintenance device includes: a cap detachably contactable with a nozzle face of a liquid discharge head; a suction device to suck liquid from the cap; a waste liquid storage to store the liquid sucked from the cap by the suction device; a waste liquid channel connecting the cap and the waste liquid storage; a cleaning liquid storage storing a cleaning liquid to be supplied to the cap; and a cleaning liquid channel connecting the cap and the cleaning liquid storage. The suction device sucks: the waste liquid in the cap to discharge the waste liquid to the waste liquid storage through the waste liquid channel; and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid storage to supply the cleaning liquid to the cap through the cleaning liquid channel.