Inkjet Printer Circulation Path Ink Concentration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses face issues with ink thickening in circulation paths, leading to inaccurate ink concentration estimation and increased waste ink due to the evaporation of ink from nozzles, which affects the ejection characteristics and reliability of the printing process.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus equipped with a circulation path, an acquisition unit for ink concentration information, and a discharge control unit that selectively executes first and second discharge controls based on the concentration data to adjust ink levels, reducing waste ink production by accurately managing ink discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ink concentration is monitored and adjusted by discharging ink from the circulation path, then ink ejection characteristics are maintained, but waste ink increases due to inaccurate concentration estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual ink concentration in the circulation path is measured and used to control ink discharge. The measurement unit directly measures the ink concentration, and the control unit adjusts the discharge amount based on this actual measurement, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains ink ejection characteristics while minimizing waste ink through precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional estimation-based control method with a direct measurement approach using a measurement unit. This substitution of mechanical/physical measurement for computational estimation eliminates the inaccuracies in concentration determination, enabling more precise control of ink discharge and reducing waste ink while maintaining reliable ejection characteristics.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ink is discharged from the circulation path to maintain constant concentration, then ink thickening is prevented, but the accuracy of concentration control decreases due to estimation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses actual concentration measurements from the measurement unit to adjust ink discharge, creating a feedback loop that maintains stable ink concentration. The system continuously monitors and adjusts based on real measurements rather than estimates, improving both stability and precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own measurement capability to automatically control ink discharge without external intervention. The measurement unit and control unit work together in an integrated manner where the system self-regulates ink concentration based on its own measurements, eliminating reliance on external estimation methods and improving both stability and measurement precision.
3Productivity
If estimated ink concentration is used to determine discharge timing, then ink concentration can be managed, but waste ink increases due to errors between estimated and actual concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the estimation-based productivity management system with a direct measurement system. The measurement unit provides accurate real-time concentration data, enabling the control unit to make precise discharge decisions that maintain productivity while eliminating waste ink caused by estimation errors between predicted and actual concentration values.
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 solution effectively suppresses the increase in waste ink by accurately adjusting ink concentration in the circulation path, enhancing the reliability of ink ejection and reducing waste, thereby improving the overall printing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation path comprising the printing element board and configured to circulate printing material, supply the printing element board with printing material, and collect printing material not ejected from the printing element board
Implementation Method 2
an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on concentration of printing material circulating through the circulation path
Implementation Method 3
In such a printing apparatus, ink is thickened, namely ink concentration is increased, in the circulation path by evaporation of ink from nozzles at the time of circulation
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided a circulation path which can supply printing material to a printing element board having nozzle capable of ejecting printing material and collect printing material not ejected from the printing element board, an acquisition unit which acquires information on concentration of printing material circulating through the circulation path, and a discharge control unit which executes discharge control of printing material concentration in which printing material is discharged from the circulation path and the circulation path is supplied with an amount of printing material corresponding to a discharge amount according to the information on concentration. In a case where the discharge control is executed, the discharge control unit selectively executes one of first discharge control in which a discharge amount of printing material concentration is a first discharge amount and second discharge control in which the discharge amount is a second discharge amount greater than the first discharge amount.