Printer Controller Ink Pressure Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printers rely on pressure sensors to determine ink sufficiency, which limits their ability to adjust printing modes without causing ink insufficiency, leading to potential printing errors and nozzle clogging.
Innovation Solution
A control device and program instructions that calculate ink pressure values based on print data and recovery values to determine whether the ink supply is sufficient, allowing for adaptive printing mode changes without pressure sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are used to determine ink sufficiency, then the accuracy of ink supply detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pressure sensor component from the system entirely. Instead of using direct pressure measurement, the invention extracts only the necessary functional information (ink pressure effects) and obtains it through alternative means (calculating from ejection characteristics and channel flow resistance), thereby eliminating the complex sensor hardware while maintaining detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that uses easily measurable parameters (ejection characteristics, flow resistance) to infer the difficult-to-measure parameter (ink pressure). This intermediary approach allows the system to obtain pressure information without directly measuring it, avoiding the need for complex pressure sensors.
2Reliability
If the printing duty cycle is limited to prevent ink insufficiency, then the reliability of printing operation is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of ink pressure and flow resistance before executing the printing operation. By determining whether ink supply will be sufficient in advance through calculation (rather than limiting the duty cycle conservatively), the system can proceed with optimal printing parameters, ensuring both reliability and maximum productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller continuously monitors ejection characteristics and calculates ink pressure in real-time. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts printing parameters to maintain reliable operation without unnecessarily limiting productivity, achieving optimal balance between reliability and throughput.
3Device complexity
If ink pressure is not monitored accurately, then the device complexity is reduced, but printing errors and nozzle clogging occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure sensor system with a computational approach. By substituting physical measurement hardware with mathematical calculations based on ejection characteristics and flow resistance, the invention maintains accurate ink pressure monitoring while eliminating complex mechanical sensing components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing operational data (ejection characteristics, channel flow resistance) to self-determine ink pressure status. Rather than requiring external sensing hardware, the printing system monitors its own performance parameters and uses this self-generated information to maintain printing quality and prevent nozzle clogging.
Data Source
AI summary
In a control device, a controller is configured to perform: executing a first print printing a first partial image in a first printing area and a second print printing a second partial image in a second printing area; setting a first ink pressure value for the first print; obtaining a recovery value to be recovered in a time period from completion of the first print to start of the second print; calculating a residual pressure value based on the first ink pressure value and the recovery value; setting a second ink pressure value for the second print using the residual pressure value; and determining whether the second ink pressure value reaches a threshold value. A first mode of print is performed when the second ink pressure value does not reach the threshold value. A second mode of print is performed when the second ink pressure value reaches the threshold value.