Printhead Suction Control for Air Bubble Removal and Ink Saving
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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 ink consumption during recovery operations.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a mounting unit for replaceable heads, a tank, a pump, a detection unit, and a control unit that adjusts discharge operations based on the usage history of the replaced head to optimize ink consumption during suction recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a 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 a preliminary suction operation before the main cleaning operation to remove air bubbles from the tube. This preliminary action prevents air bubbles from entering the printing head during subsequent cleaning, thereby reducing the total ink consumption while maintaining ejection function reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The suction unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the tube and printing head. It selectively removes air bubbles from the tube without allowing them to enter the printing head, thereby protecting the ejection function while minimizing ink loss through targeted suction operations
2Reliability
If a suction operation is performed to remove air bubbles, then ejection failure is prevented, but ink consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction unit performs a preliminary suction operation to remove air bubbles from the tube before they can enter the printing head. This preliminary action reduces the need for subsequent intensive cleaning operations, thereby preventing ejection failure while minimizing overall ink consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The suction unit extracts air bubbles from the tube selectively, separating them from the ink flow before they can contaminate the printing head. This extraction process prevents ejection failure while consuming minimal ink compared to full cleaning operations
3Reliability
If the printing head is cleaned frequently to prevent ejection failure, then ejection function is maintained, but ink consumption and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction unit performs preliminary suction operations at strategic intervals to remove air bubbles from the tube before they accumulate and cause ejection failures. This proactive approach maintains ejection function reliability while reducing the frequency and duration of full cleaning operations, thereby minimizing time loss
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
Reduces ink consumption during head replacement by varying suction amounts based on the head's usage history, preventing ejection failures and maintaining efficient printing operations.
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.