Printhead Cap With Textured Resilient Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Inkjet imaging devices face challenges in preserving the operational status of printheads during periods of inactivity, as quickly drying inks can evaporate and clog nozzles, leading to significant ink loss and reduced printer efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A capping station with a housing and textured surface made of resilient material is used to enclose the printheads, featuring a flushing fluid system that maintains low viscosity ink and prevents evaporation, ensuring the printheads remain operational for extended periods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the printhead is left exposed during periods of inactivity, then the printer structure remains simple and accessible, but the ink dries quickly causing nozzle clogging and loss of operational status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational status of printheadVSAvoidcapping station structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible membrane seal that conformally covers the printhead nozzles during inactivity. This thin film barrier prevents ink evaporation while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure. The membrane is elastic and can be easily deployed and retracted, adding minimal structural complexity while effectively preserving printhead operational status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a capping station as an intermediary component between the printhead and the ambient environment. This intermediate structure provides a controlled microenvironment that protects the printhead from drying conditions without requiring complete structural redesign of the printer system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a conventional cap is used to cover the printhead, then evaporation is reduced, but the cap accumulates dried ink on its seals requiring frequent cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreservation of inkjet operational statusVSAvoidmaintenance of capping station

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical contact seal with a conformal membrane seal that makes contact along the entire perimeter of the printhead. This distributed sealing approach prevents ink accumulation at discrete seal locations, eliminating the need for frequent cleaning while maintaining reliable preservation of printhead functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a textured surface treatment to specific regions of the cap interior where ink accumulation might occur. This localized modification creates a non-stick surface property in critical areas, preventing dried ink buildup without requiring complete redesign of the entire capping station structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the printhead is purged frequently to remove dried ink, then operational status is restored, but significant ink loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational status of inkjetsVSAvoidink loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a preliminary protective action by deploying the conformal membrane seal before ink drying can occur. This preventive measure stops the drying process at its inception, eliminating the need for corrective purging operations and preventing ink loss entirely. The seal creates a barrier that maintains ink viscosity and prevents evaporation during storage periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 capping station effectively reduces ink drying on seals and preserves the operational status of inkjets, minimizing ink loss and maintaining printhead functionality during inactivity, thereby enhancing printer efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

A capping station for an inkjet imaging device is configured to reduce the drying of ink on the seals of the capping station and includes structure to preserve the operational status of the inkjets more effectively

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation prevention: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS10814634B1Printhead cap for attenuating the drying of ink from a printhead during periods of printer inactivity

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 XEROX CORP

AI summary

A capping station is configured for storing a printhead during printer inactivity to preserve the operational status of the nozzles in the printhead. Each capping station has a housing having at least one wall and a floor configured to enclose a volume partially, and a plate having a textured surface that is positioned at a predetermined distance from a top surface of the at least one wall of the housing. The textured surface is made of a resilient material that has cells that contain flushing fluid. A printhead is pushed within the volume of the housing to engage the textured surface of the plate to press the flushing fluid into the faceplate of the printhead. The flushing fluid and the proximity of the textured surface keep ink on the faceplate and within the nozzles of the faceplate from drying.