Printing Apparatus Ink Supply Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing printing apparatus experiences unstable ink discharge due to variations in the output of the circulation pump at the start of printing, caused by the initiation of ink supply from a buffer tank, leading to inconsistent ink circulation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a controller that performs an idle operation before printing, where it adjusts the collection and supply pumps to balance ink levels between the supply and collection sub-tanks, and during the print starting operation, it gradually increases the ink supply from the buffer tank while decreasing the collection from the supply sub-tank, stabilizing the ink discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ink supply from the buffer tank is started at the beginning of printing, then the ink discharge amount can be increased to meet printing demand, but the circulation pump output varies largely causing unstable ink discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by starting the collection pump before image printing to collect ink from the supply sub-tank to the buffer tank in advance. This prepares the ink supply system gradually, preventing sudden large variations in circulation pump output when printing starts, thus maintaining stable ink discharge while ensuring sufficient ink supply.
2Speed
If the circulation pump operates at high speed to meet printing demand, then ink supply speed increases, but the output variation becomes larger causing discharge instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation speeds of the collection pump and supply pump based on the printing state. During idle operation, the collection pump operates at a first speed to collect ink gradually. When image printing starts, the speeds are adjusted to match the printing demand, ensuring stable ink discharge while meeting productivity requirements.
3Quantity of substance
If the collection pump collects ink rapidly from the supply sub-tank, then the buffer tank supply capacity is充分利用, but the ink levels become unbalanced causing circulation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors the ink levels in the supply sub-tank and collection sub-tank, and adjusts the collection pump and supply pump operations based on this feedback. The collection pump collects ink from the supply sub-tank to the buffer tank while the supply pump supplies ink from the buffer tank to the collection sub-tank, maintaining balanced ink levels and ensuring stable circulation.
Data Source
AI summary
The idle operation is performed before time t1. The supply amount of the ink from the main tank 95 to the collection sub-tank 92 can be increased with the passage of time while the supply of the ink from the main tank 95 to the collection sub-tank 92 is continued before and after a transition to the print starting operation from the idle operation. Therefore, it is possible to deal with the start of ink discharge from the discharge head H. That is, the ink is already supplied to the collection sub-tank 92 by the supply pump 962 before the start of printing, and the start of ink discharge can be dealt with by increasing the ink supply amount. Therefore, the ink can be stably discharged by suppressing an output variation of the circulation pump 93 at the start of printing.