Inkjet Printhead Recovery Control via Variable Discharge Amount
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inkjet printing apparatuses face inefficiencies in ink recovery operations, leading to wasteful ink consumption and potential discharge failures due to increased viscosity and bubble accumulation in printhead nozzles, especially when the device is left unused for extended periods.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus and recovery method that include a setting unit to request discharge recovery after initialization and a control unit to execute either first or second discharge recovery, with the second recovery having a smaller ink discharge amount, allowing for controlled ink consumption and maintaining printhead performance without unnecessary ink waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discharge recovery is executed upon power-on to maintain printhead nozzles, then nozzle discharge performance is improved, but ink consumption increases wastefully when the device is left unused for short periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of discharge recovery execution timing from fixed (always upon power-on) to variable (based on elapsed time since last execution). The control unit determines whether to execute discharge recovery by comparing the elapsed time against a threshold, thereby adapting the recovery operation to actual usage patterns and reducing unnecessary ink consumption while maintaining nozzle performance.
2Loss of substance
If discharge recovery is delayed until print instruction is received to reduce ink consumption, then ink consumption is reduced, but bubble accumulation and ink viscosity increase in nozzles during long idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time-based parameter (elapsed time since last discharge recovery) to dynamically adjust the discharge recovery execution decision. When the elapsed time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control unit executes discharge recovery to prevent bubble accumulation and viscosity increase, thereby maintaining nozzle reliability without causing unnecessary ink waste during short idle periods.
3Ease of operation
If cap is opened immediately upon power-on to enable immediate printing, then printing readiness is improved, but repeated cap opening and discharge recovery operations increase ink waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameter from immediate cap opening and discharge recovery upon power-on to conditional execution based on elapsed time. The control unit monitors the time since the last discharge recovery operation and only executes recovery when the threshold is exceeded, thereby reducing repeated unnecessary operations while maintaining printing readiness when actually needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of this present invention includes a printhead with an orifice for discharging ink, and a recovery unit configured to perform recovery of the printhead by driving a print element of the printhead to discharge ink from the orifice. The apparatus makes a setting for a request for discharge recovery by the recovery unit after initialization processing performed upon power-on of the printing apparatus, and controls the recovery unit to execute one of first discharge recovery and second discharge recovery in which an ink discharge amount is smaller than in the first discharge recovery in accordance with the setting before a start of printing by the printhead.