Ink Circulation in Printing Heads for Stable Temperature and Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink replenishment in printing apparatuses can cause fluctuations in ink temperature and density, leading to instability in ink properties and reduced print quality, particularly with white ink.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a circulation system with supply and collection sub-tanks connected by a connection pipe, along with an ink circulation driver, to circulate ink during non-replenishment times, and a separate circulation path for white ink between a drum tank and buffer tank to prevent pigment precipitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ink is replenished from the main tank to the head unit, then the ink supply is maintained, but the ink temperature fluctuates and becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the ink storage into two separate tanks: a main tank for bulk storage and a sub-tank for active circulation. This segmentation allows the main tank to store ink at stable temperature while the sub-tank receives replenished ink, preventing temperature fluctuations in the circulation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sub-tank acts as an intermediary between the main tank and the head unit. Ink is transferred from the main tank to the sub-tank, which then supplies the head unit. This intermediary buffer prevents direct temperature fluctuations from affecting the circulation system.
2Productivity
If ink stands still in the pipe and drum tank during non-replenishment time, then the system operates efficiently, but pigments precipitate and generate ink density distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic circulation of ink during non-replenishment periods. The circulation pump continuously moves ink through the pipe and between tanks, preventing pigment precipitation while maintaining system efficiency through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump operates continuously or periodically to maintain ink movement throughout the system. This continuous useful action prevents pigment settlement and maintains uniform ink density without requiring constant replenishment operations.
3Quantity of substance
If ink is replenished from the drum tank to the main tank, then the ink supply is maintained, but the ink density becomes unstable due to pigment precipitation
Solution Approach 1:
The circulation pump performs preliminary action by continuously moving ink before replenishment occurs. This prevents pigment precipitation in advance, ensuring that when ink is replenished from the drum tank to the main tank, the density remains stable and uniform.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation system maintains continuous ink movement to prevent pigment settlement during storage periods. This continuous action ensures that ink density remains stable and uniform, ready for replenishment to the main tank.
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
Stabilizes ink properties by maintaining consistent temperature and density, preventing reductions in print quality due to fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a connection pipe connecting the supply sub-tank and the collection sub-tank and circulates the ink by supplying the ink stored in the supply sub-tank to the discharge head
Implementation Method 2
A negative pressure in the collection tank is set to be larger than that in the supply tank, and the ink is circulated inside a head unit due to this pressure difference
Implementation Method 3
the ink stored in the tank having a larger negative pressure (collection tank) is moved to the other (supply tank) by a circulation pump arranged between these tanks
Data Source
AI summary
An ink is circulated in a circulation path including a supply sub-tank, a discharge head and a collection sub-tank in a head unit. If the amount of the ink in the head unit decreases, the ink stored in the buffer tank is replenished to the head unit. On the other hand, in a first non-replenishment time during which the ink is not replenished, the ink is circulated through the buffer tank, the collection sub-tank and the supply sub-tank in this order. Thus, a temperature fluctuation of the replenishment ink stored in the buffer tank is suppressed. As a result, even if the ink is replenished to the head unit from the buffer tank, physical properties, particularly a viscosity, of the ink do not largely vary.