Replaceable Printhead Suction Control for Air Bubble Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air bubbles generated in the tube connecting the printing head and ink tank lead to ink depletion and ejection failures in printing apparatuses, necessitating inefficient cleaning operations that consume ink.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a replaceable ink head, a detection unit to identify head usage history, and a control unit to adjust discharge operations based on this history, reducing ink consumption during suction recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleaning operation is performed to remove air bubbles from the tube, then ejection failure is prevented, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of air bubbles in the tube before ejection operations occur. When air bubbles are detected, a suction operation is proactively executed to remove them before they can cause ejection failures, thereby preventing the need for more intensive cleaning operations that would consume more ink.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the tube for air bubbles and uses this feedback information to dynamically control the suction operation. The suction pump is activated only when air bubbles are detected, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes ink consumption by avoiding unnecessary suction operations while ensuring ejection reliability when needed.
2Quantity of substance
If suction operation is performed to refill ink in the head, then ink depletion is prevented, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses detection means to monitor ink levels and air bubble presence in real-time, and only activates the suction pump when refilling is actually needed. This feedback-based control ensures that ink is suctioned back into the head only when depletion is detected or air bubbles are present, minimizing unnecessary ink consumption while maintaining adequate ink supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of ink levels before ejection operations. When low ink levels are detected, the suction operation is initiated in advance to refill the head, preventing ink depletion during printing operations and avoiding the need for more extensive refilling operations later.
3Reliability
If head replacement is performed, then ejection failure is resolved, but ink consumption during cleaning increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of air bubbles in the tube before head replacement occurs. When air bubbles are detected, a suction operation is executed beforehand to remove them, so that when the head is replaced, minimal or no cleaning is needed. This preliminary action significantly reduces the ink consumption associated with post-replacement cleaning operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The detection means continuously monitors for air bubbles and provides feedback that triggers suction operations before head replacement. This ensures that air bubbles are removed proactively, reducing or eliminating the need for intensive cleaning after head replacement, thereby minimizing ink consumption while maintaining ejection reliability.
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 allows for targeted ink refilling and reduced ink consumption during head replacement, preventing ejection failures and optimizing the cleaning process.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to discharge ink to an outside of the head
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a mounting unit, a tank, a pump, a detection unit, an obtainment unit, and a control unit. The mounting unit is configured so that a head that ejects ink can be mounted in a replaceable manner. The tank contains ink to be supplied to the head via a tube. The pump discharges ink to an outside of the head. The detection unit detects that the head mounted on the mounting unit has been replaced. The obtainment unit obtains information of a usage history which indicates whether or not the head mounted as a replacement has been used. The control unit controls a discharge operation, which is performed by the pump after head replacement, to be changed based on the information of the usage history.