Printer Ink Flow Path with Separate Pumps to Prevent Color Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printers experience a time lag when switching between pressurization and depressurization in the ink flow path, leading to ink accumulation and color mixing, which can result in unwanted color mixing during printing.
Innovation Solution
The printer incorporates separate liquid feeding and depressurizing pumps to manage the ink flow path, reducing the time lag by alternating their operations to prevent ink accumulation and color mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump is used to switch between pressurization and depressurization by reversing rotation direction, then device complexity is reduced, but a time lag occurs during direction switching causing ink color mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The single pump is divided into two separate pumps: a pressurizing pump for increasing ink pressure and a depressurizing pump for decreasing ink pressure. This segmentation eliminates the direction switching time lag because each pump operates in only one direction, allowing immediate response when pressure mode changes are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurizing pump and depressurizing pump are combined within the same ink supply mechanism structure, sharing common components such as the ink container connection and control system. This merging approach achieves rapid pressure switching without requiring two completely separate systems, balancing the need for speed with structural integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pump rotation is reversed to depressurize the ink, then the same pump can perform both pressurization and depressurization, but ink accumulates on nozzle surfaces and causes color mixing during the transition
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the pump function into separate pressurizing and depressurizing pumps, the system eliminates the ink accumulation problem that occurs during direction reversal. Each pump operates unidirectionally, preventing the mixing of ink from different nozzles that happens when the single pump stops and reverses direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurizing and depressurizing pumps can operate continuously without interruption or direction change. When depressurization is needed, the depressurizing pump immediately activates without waiting for the pressurizing pump to stop, maintaining continuous ink flow control and preventing ink accumulation on nozzle surfaces.
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 configuration effectively minimizes the time lag between pressurization and depressurization, preventing ink color mixing and sedimentation, ensuring consistent print quality.
Implementation Method 1
pressurizes the ink in the ink flow path to cause the ink to leak out through the nozzles
Implementation Method 2
depressurizing pump provided in the second flow path to feed the ink in a direction from the ink head toward the ink container
Data Source
AI summary
A printer includes an ink container to accommodate ink, an ink head to eject the ink, an ink flow path including a first flow path and a second flow path, the ink flow path connecting the ink container and the ink head to each other, a liquid feeding pump provided in the first flow path to feed the ink in a direction from the ink container toward the ink head, and a depressurizing pump provided in the second flow path to feed the ink in a direction from the ink head toward the ink container.