Printer Cap Cleaning Mechanism for Nozzle Clogging Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as printers, face challenges in effectively cleaning the functional liquid adhered to the upper end of the head cap, which prevents thorough cleaning of the nozzles, leading to reduced printing quality and clogging issues.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a capping mechanism that moves a cap between capping and separated positions, a cleaning-liquid supply mechanism, and a facing portion to provide a predetermined space for the cleaning liquid to contact the lip portion, ensuring thorough cleaning of the cap and nozzle surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cap is filled with cleaning liquid and discharged to clean the cap, then the cap interior is cleaned, but the functional liquid adhered to the upper end of the head cap cannot be cleaned
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning process is divided into two distinct stages: first, the cap is filled with cleaning liquid and discharged to clean the interior; second, the cap is positioned facing downward to allow cleaning liquid to flow down and clean the lip portion exterior. This segmentation enables comprehensive cleaning of both internal and external surfaces that were previously inaccessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is rotated or repositioned to a facing-downward orientation, changing its spatial dimension. This dimensional change allows the cleaning liquid to access and wet the lip portion exterior surface, which was previously shielded when the cap was in the horizontal capping position. The capping mechanism enables this positional transformation.
2Reliability
If the cap is kept in contact with the nozzle surface for capping, then nozzle coverage is maintained, but the lip portion cannot be accessed by cleaning liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The cap's position is made dynamic through the capping mechanism, which can move the cap between the horizontal capping position (for nozzle protection) and the facing-downward cleaning position (for lip portion access). This dynamic positioning allows the single cap structure to serve dual functions: protecting nozzles during operation and enabling comprehensive cleaning when repositioned.
3Productivity
If cleaning liquid is supplied into the cap without a predetermined space, then the cap fills quickly, but the cleaning liquid cannot effectively contact the facing portion
Solution Approach 1:
Before supplying cleaning liquid into the cap, the cap is first repositioned to the facing-downward orientation. This preliminary action ensures that when cleaning liquid is subsequently supplied, it can immediately and effectively contact the lip portion exterior surface, maximizing cleaning effectiveness from the moment of supply.
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
This solution allows for efficient cleaning of the lip portion and nozzle surface, reducing clogging and maintaining printing quality by ensuring the cleaning liquid effectively wets and spreads across the surfaces, thereby improving the apparatus's maintenance and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
for the cleaning liquid supplied in the cap to come into contact with the facing portion
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejector having a nozzle surface having nozzles, a cap configured to perform capping when coming into contact with the nozzle surface, a capping mechanism configured to move the cap between a capping position for the capping and a separated position separated from the nozzle surface, a cleaning-liquid supply mechanism configured to supply a cleaning liquid into the cap, and a facing portion configured to face a lip portion of the cap coming into contact with the nozzle surface in the capping, in which the lip portion and the facing portion are made to face each other and a predetermined space is provided between the lip portion and the facing portion for the cleaning liquid supplied in the cap to come into contact with the facing portion.