Recording Head Cleaning Using a Recessed Discharge Surface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cleaning liquid used to clean ink from inkjet recording heads can spread improperly, contaminating the head contact surfaces and nozzle surfaces, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A maintenance member with a cleaning surface and maintenance contact surfaces is designed to supply cleaning liquid while moving relative to the recording head, with a discharge surface recessed from the cleaning surface and extended surfaces guiding the liquid flow, minimizing lateral spread and adhesion to head contact surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cleaning liquid is supplied to the nozzle surface from the maintenance member, then the ink adhering to the nozzle surface is washed away, but the cleaning liquid containing the washed away ink may spread in the width direction and contaminate the head contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a depth dimension by providing a discharge surface that is recessed downward from the cleaning surface. This creates a three-dimensional structure where the cleaning liquid flows downward into the recessed region, preventing lateral spread in the width direction that would otherwise contaminate the head contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed discharge surface acts as an intermediary structure between the cleaning surface and the head contact surfaces. It captures and contains the cleaning liquid with ink, preventing direct contact between the contaminated liquid and the head contact surfaces while still allowing effective cleaning to occur.
2Ease of operation
If the maintenance member is brought into contact with the head contact surfaces, then the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the nozzle surface, but the cleaning liquid may spread in the width direction and contaminate the head contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed discharge surface creates a depth dimension that physically separates the cleaning liquid flow path from the head contact surfaces. This allows the maintenance member to contact the head contact surfaces for stable positioning while the recessed structure prevents contaminated liquid from reaching those contact surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The maintenance member is segmented into distinct functional surfaces: the cleaning surface for supplying cleaning liquid, the recessed discharge surface for containing the used cleaning liquid, and the head contact surfaces for positioning. This segmentation allows each surface to perform its specific function without interfering with or contaminating the others.
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 effectively suppresses the adhesion of ink to head contact surfaces during cleaning, ensuring the integrity of the recording head components.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning liquid nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid being open in the cleaning surface
Implementation Method 2
a discharge surface, which is adjacent to the cleaning surface in the moving direction and recessed downward from the cleaning surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
The maintenance member 6 has the discharge plane 651 (discharge surface), which is adjacent to the cleaning plane 641 in the cleaning direction Yc and recessed downward from the cleaning plane 641. This discharge plane 651 is provided between the two extended surfaces 634, which are extended in the cleaning direction Yc respectively from the two contact planes 631, in the X direction. In such a configuration, a flow of the cleaning liquid falling down from the cleaning plane 641 to the discharge plane 651 in the cleaning direction Yc is formed. Thus, the amount of the cleaning liquid flowing in the X direction from the cleaning plane 641 can be suppressed.