Printing Apparatus Air Blowing Unit Nozzle Condensation Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing printing technologies, such as those described in JP 2017-165033 A, require temporary suspension of printing operations to adjust humidity levels around the ink jet nozzle surface, leading to interruptions in printing due to condensation or drying issues, which affect print quality and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus and method that incorporates an air blowing unit positioned on either side of the printing head's reciprocation path, blowing airflow to the nozzle surface during printing to promote evaporation of ink components and prevent condensation, allowing continuous operation without humidity adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If humidity control is performed by moving the nozzle surface to a different position, then condensation and drying can be prevented, but printing operations must be temporarily suspended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle surface condition stabilityVSAvoidprinting operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

An airflow generator is introduced as an intermediary device that produces airflow to directly act on the nozzle surface. This mediator enables humidity control without requiring the nozzle to be moved to different positions, thus preventing condensation and drying while maintaining continuous printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical approach of moving the nozzle surface to control humidity is replaced with a pneumatic approach using airflow generation. Instead of mechanically repositioning the nozzle, airflow is used to control the local humidity environment around the nozzle, eliminating the need to suspend printing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If temperature and humidity adjusting units are used to maintain constant humidity, then condensation and drying are prevented, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle surface condition stabilityVSAvoidtemperature and humidity control system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex temperature and humidity adjusting units are extracted and replaced with a simpler airflow generator. The invention isolates the essential function needed for humidity control (air movement) from the complex thermal and humidity management systems, achieving the same protective effect with simpler hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of controlling temperature and humidity parameters directly, the invention changes the approach by controlling airflow parameters. The airflow generator modifies the local air movement around the nozzle, which indirectly controls the humidity environment without requiring direct temperature and humidity adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If dehumidification or moisturization is performed by moving the nozzle, then humidity threshold violations are corrected, but printing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehumidity level controlVSAvoidprinting operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The airflow generator is positioned to preliminarily establish the appropriate humidity environment around the nozzle before condensation or drying can occur. By maintaining proper airflow continuously, the system prevents humidity threshold violations rather than reacting to them after they occur, eliminating the need to suspend printing for corrections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The airflow generation operates continuously throughout the printing process, providing ongoing protection against condensation and drying. This continuous action eliminates the need to interrupt printing for humidity adjustments, as the useful action of humidity control persists without interruption alongside the printing operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful 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

This solution enables stable and continuous printing by preventing condensation and drying on the nozzle surface, maintaining print quality over extended periods without the need for frequent humidity adjustments, thus enhancing productivity and reducing operational interruptions.

Implementation Method 1

blowing airflow to a nozzle surface of the printing head that performs the reciprocation during printing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12251937B2Printing apparatus and printing method

Publication Date: 2025.03.18 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes a platen that supports a recording medium, a printing head that reciprocates along the platen, and discharges a droplet onto the recording medium supported by the platen at least in a forward route or a backward route of the reciprocation, to perform printing, and an air blowing unit disposed on at least one of two sides of the platen in a reciprocation direction, that is a direction in which the printing head moves along with the reciprocation, and blows an airflow to a nozzle surface of the printing head that reciprocates.