Printing Apparatus Suction Nozzle Segmentation for Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing printing apparatuses, the suction port for removing mist is fixed to the carriage, making it difficult for operators to clean, as they need to reach a narrow area with a cleaning tool, resulting in a significant cleaning load.
Innovation Solution
The printing apparatus includes a suction unit with a suction nozzle that is attachable to and detachable from the head holding plate, allowing for easy cleaning without requiring operators to reach narrow areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction port is fixed to the carriage, then the mist suction function is stable, but the cleaning operation becomes difficult and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The suction unit is divided into a detachable suction nozzle and a carriage body. The suction nozzle can be separated from the carriage, allowing operators to easily remove and clean the suction port without reaching into narrow areas of the assembled device. This segmentation maintains the stable mist suction function when assembled while enabling easy cleaning when detached.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction nozzle is designed to be attachable and detachable from the carriage, transitioning between a fixed state during operation (maintaining stable mist suction) and a movable state during maintenance (enabling easy cleaning). This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction between operational stability and cleaning ease.
2Device complexity
If the suction port is fixed in a narrow area of the carriage, then the compact structure is maintained, but the cleaning accessibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the suction nozzle as a separate detachable component, the design maintains a compact carriage structure when assembled while allowing the suction port to be accessed for cleaning by detaching the nozzle. This eliminates the need to reach into narrow areas during maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction port is extracted from the fixed carriage structure and placed in a detachable suction nozzle. This extraction allows the suction port to be easily removed and cleaned separately, improving accessibility without compromising the compactness of the overall carriage structure during operation.
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 configuration simplifies the cleaning process, reducing the operational load and ensuring effective removal of mist from the suction port.
Implementation Method 1
a suction unit being provided to the carriage and including a suction port configured to suck mist of the first liquid generated at the time of ejecting the first liquid from the first head
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a printing medium holding unit, a carriage, a first head including a first nozzle row for ejecting a first liquid, and a suction unit including a suction port that sucks mist of the first liquid. The carriage includes a head holding plate that holds the first head and the suction unit while facing the printing medium holding unit. The head holding plate includes a first opening portion from which the first nozzle row is exposed and a second opening portion from which the suction portion is exposed. The suction unit includes a suction nozzle to which a suction port is provided. The suction nozzle can be attached to and detached from the head holding plate.