Printer Nozzle Recovery Triggered by Paper Feed Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet printing devices with multi-function capabilities face increased waiting times for users due to the necessity of performing recovery operations before recording operations, especially when predetermined times have elapsed since the last recovery operation.
Innovation Solution
An image recording apparatus that includes a detecting mechanism to identify changes in paper feeding or discharge mechanisms, triggering a recovery operation before the recording operation is commanded, utilizing a controller to manage the recovery mechanism based on elapsed time, allowing for immediate recovery when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the recovery operation is carried out automatically after a predetermined time has elapsed, then the nozzle jetting condition is maintained, but the user waiting time increases when recording is commanded immediately
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs the recovery operation in advance before the recording operation is commanded, by detecting the paper feeding or discharge action as a precursor indicator. This preliminary action ensures the nozzle is in optimal state for recording while eliminating the unnecessary waiting time that would occur if recovery waited for the recording command.
2Reliability
If the recovery operation is performed before recording operation, then the nozzle condition is optimized, but the overall process time increases when no recovery is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from detecting paper feeding or discharge actions to determine when recovery is necessary. By monitoring these precursor actions, the system can intelligently trigger recovery only when the nozzle may be clogged, avoiding unnecessary recovery operations and maintaining high productivity when the nozzle is already in good condition.
3Loss of time
If the detecting mechanism monitors paper feeding or discharge changes, then recovery timing is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing paper feeding and discharge mechanisms themselves as the detection source. Rather than adding separate complex sensors, the system monitors the natural operational movements of the paper handling components, allowing them to serve dual purposes: both handling paper and providing timing feedback for recovery operations.
Data Source
AI summary
An image recording apparatus includes a recording head which includes nozzles, a paper feeding mechanism which feeds a recording medium to the recording head, a paper discharge mechanism which discharges the recording medium from the recording head, a detecting mechanism which detects a change occurred in the paper feeding mechanism or the paper discharge mechanism, a recovery mechanism which recovers a jetting state of the nozzles, a timer which measures a time elapsed after the recovery operation is carried out, and a controller which controls the recovery mechanism according to the elapsed time. When the recovery operation for the nozzles is necessary, an operation preceding the recording operation is detected, and the recovery operation is carried out promptly before the recording operation, thereby shortening a waiting time of a user.