Printing Apparatus Drive Waveform Segmentation for Discharger Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In printing apparatuses like ink jet printers, discharging abnormalities due to increased liquid viscosity or foreign matter can lead to reduced image quality, and existing techniques for detecting these issues require ranking and inspecting piezoelectric elements, which is inefficient and prone to variations.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus that uses distinct drive waveforms and micro-vibration waveforms to detect residual vibrations within the discharger, allowing for the determination of discharging states without considering individual differences in piezoelectric elements, thereby reducing the influence of variations and preventing liquid thickening during the printing and inspection processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If piezoelectric elements are ranked and inspected individually to determine discharging state, then discharging abnormality detection is possible, but inspection complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection waveform is segmented into multiple potential levels (first potential, second potential, third potential, fourth potential) with specific durations. This segmentation allows the system to extract multiple vibration characteristics from a single inspection cycle, enabling comprehensive discharger evaluation without increasing inspection frequency or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection waveform serves multiple functions: it excites the piezoelectric element for vibration generation, provides multiple potential levels for different vibration characteristic measurements, and enables both thickening prevention and discharger inspection in a single operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate ranking and inspection processes.
2Productivity
If high potential is applied to discharge liquid from discharger, then printing function is achieved, but residual vibration and piezoelectric element variation influence increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inspection process extracts only the vibration characteristics from the piezoelectric element response to the inspection waveform. By analyzing the residual vibration signal separately from the liquid discharge function, the system can evaluate discharger performance without being influenced by piezoelectric element variations that affect both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The inspection waveform acts as an intermediary signal that excites the piezoelectric element to generate measurable residual vibration. This intermediary signal allows indirect measurement of discharger health through vibration characteristics rather than directly measuring the piezoelectric element properties that vary between elements.
3Reliability
If micro-vibration waveform is used during printing process, then liquid thickening is prevented, but additional waveform complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-vibration waveform generation and the inspection waveform generation are merged into a single waveform control system. The same waveform generating unit produces both the printing waveform (with micro-vibration for thickening prevention) and the inspection waveform (with multiple potential levels for discharger evaluation), simplifying the overall control architecture.
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 enables precise determination of discharging states without ranking piezoelectric elements, reducing the impact of variations and improving printing quality by effectively managing liquid discharge and inspection processes.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element of a discharger is displaced by driving of the discharger which is provided in a recording head
Implementation Method 2
detecting a residual vibration which is generated in the discharger when the discharger is driven
Data Source
AI summary
A drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal during a printing process including a first drive waveform for driving a discharger to discharge a liquid and a first micro-vibration waveform, and generates a drive signal during a discharging state determination process including a second drive waveform for driving the discharger to inspect the discharger, and a second micro-vibration waveform. The first drive waveform becomes a first potential during a first period, becomes a fourth potential during a second period, and becomes the first potential during a third period. The second drive waveform becomes a second potential during a fourth period, becomes a third potential during a fifth period, and becomes the second potential during a sixth period. The first micro-vibration waveform and the second micro-vibration waveform are different from each other.