Printer Head Cleaning Device with Ultrasonic Brush
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet head cleaning devices relying solely on ultrasonic means often leave dirt and stains on the nozzle surface, leading to clogging and deflection of ink droplets, as these contaminants cannot be effectively removed.
Innovation Solution
A printer head cleaning device with a cleaning tank and a brush having minute ends that are immersed in a cleaning solution and subjected to ultrasonic vibration, where the brush's minute ends scrape the nozzle surface to remove persistent dirt and stains, combined with a drive unit to move the brush for enhanced cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If only ultrasonic cleaning is used, then the cleaning device structure is simple, but dirt and stains cannot be effectively removed from the nozzle surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ultrasonic vibration and brush mechanical cleaning into a single cleaning device. The ultrasonic cleaner generates vibrations while the brush contacts the nozzle surface, creating a composite cleaning action that removes both loose and persistent contaminants effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic cleaner generates high-frequency vibrations that are transmitted to the cleaning solution and brush. This mechanical vibration helps loosen dirt and stains on the nozzle surface while the brush provides direct mechanical contact for scraping persistent contaminants.
2Reliability
If a brush with minute ends is added to the ultrasonic cleaner, then persistent dirt can be removed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brush is integrated into the ultrasonic cleaning device structure. The brush with minute ends contacts the nozzle surface while being subjected to ultrasonic vibrations, combining mechanical scraping with vibrational cleaning in one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning solution acts as an intermediary medium that transmits ultrasonic vibrations to the brush and nozzle surface. The solution facilitates the transfer of vibrational energy while allowing the brush to mechanically interact with contaminants on the nozzle.
3Manufacturing precision
If the brush is moved during cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is enhanced, but the device requires additional drive mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit that moves the brush is integrated with the ultrasonic cleaning system. The same motor or actuator that drives the brush can be synchronized with the ultrasonic vibration cycle, combining mechanical movement with vibrational cleaning without requiring completely separate drive mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive unit serves multiple functions: it moves the brush across the nozzle surface for comprehensive coverage and can be coordinated with the ultrasonic vibration to enhance cleaning effectiveness. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for additional specialized mechanisms.
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
Effectively removes dirt and stains that are difficult to clean ultrasonically, preventing nozzle clogging and ensuring reliable inkjet printing by combining mechanical scrubbing with ultrasonic vibration.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning vibration transmitting unit for applying an ultrasonic vibration at a frequency for cleaning to a brush to decompose contaminants in the cleaning solution
Implementation Method 2
the ultrasonic vibration decomposes and removes dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface
Implementation Method 3
The ultrasonic vibration is transmitted to the nozzle surface from the cleaning vibration transmitting unit, for example, a piezoelectric element
Data Source
AI summary
The object is to reliably remove dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface of a printer head. To accomplish the object, an inkjet printing device (100) is provided with a rotating brush (50) in a cap (103) mounted on a printer head (1), and a piezoelectric element (150) disposed on the side wall of the cap (103). The piezoelectric element (150) is ultrasonically vibrated at a predetermined frequency by means of a controller (20) and a power source (9). The ultrasonic vibration is transmitted into a cleaning solution in the cap (103) to remove dirt and/or stains adhered to a nozzle surface (3a). The rotating brush (50) is rotated by a motor, and its bristles (53) are vibrated by the ultrasonic vibration. Accordingly, dirt and/or stains on the nozzle surface (3a) are mechanically removed.