Inkjet Printhead Wiping Control for Color Mixture Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inkjet printing technologies face issues of color mixture due to ink mist entering ejection ports during wiping operations, which can lead to decreased throughput and ink viscosity increase, especially when wiping is performed during or after ink circulation.
Innovation Solution
A control unit manages the wiping operation of the cleaning member after the ink circulation pump is stopped, adjusting the timing based on the elapsed time since pump stoppage to prevent color mixture by ensuring a fresh surface for wiping and incorporating a winding operation when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If wiping is performed during ink circulation, then ink viscosity increase is suppressed, but color mixture occurs due to ink mist entering ejection ports
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump is stopped before the wiping operation to prevent ink circulation during cleaning. This preliminary action eliminates the harmful effect of ink mist entering ejection ports during wiping, resolving the color mixture problem while maintaining ink viscosity stability through proper timing of the circulation resumption
2Object-affected harmful factors
If wiping is performed after ink circulation is stopped, then color mixture is suppressed, but throughput drops
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the timing of wiping operations based on the circulation pump stoppage time. By optimizing the interval between pump stoppage and wiping initiation, the system achieves effective color mixture suppression while minimizing throughput impact through efficient operation sequencing
3Manufacturing precision
If a fresh cleaning member surface is used for wiping, then wiping accuracy is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to winding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The winding mechanism is integrated with the existing maintenance mechanism structure, combining the cleaning member advancement function with the carriage movement system. This merging approach provides fresh cleaning surfaces for each wiping operation while minimizing additional device complexity through shared mechanical components
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
This approach enhances wiping accuracy, reduces color mixture, and maintains throughput by optimizing the wiping process to match the ink flow dynamics, thereby improving productivity and preventing ink viscosity issues.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation pump configured to circulate the ink in a circulation channel including the first channel, the pressure chamber, and a second channel
Implementation Method 2
a print head configured to eject ink, which has flowed from a first channel into a pressure chamber, from a nozzle by driving an ejection energy generating element installed in the pressure chamber
Implementation Method 3
a wiping unit configured with a cleaning member that can wipe an ejection port surface of an ejection port
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus including a print head ejecting ink, flowing from a first channel into a pressure chamber, from a nozzle, by driving an ejection energy generating element in the pressure chamber, a circulation pump circulates the ink in a circulation channel including the first channel, the pressure chamber, and a second channel that flows the ink from inside the pressure chamber to the outside, a wiping unit with a cleaning member that wipes an ejection port surface of an ejection port and a winding member that winds the cleaning member, and a control unit controls a cleaning operation in which the wiping unit wipes the ejection port surface. When the cleaning operation is performed after the circulation pump is stopped, the cleaning operation is changed based on an elapsed time from the time the circulation pump stopped driving, and the cleaning operation is controlled based on the elapsed time.