Rockable Suction Cap Asymmetry Prevents Ink Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink discharge apparatuses face issues with nozzle clogging and ink mixing due to the rockable suction cap design, which can lead to deep color ink adhering to light color nozzles, causing contamination and incomplete cleaning during the suction purge process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a partitioned suction cap with an urging mechanism that inclines the corner portion, ensuring the deep color ink chamber is separated further from the nozzle surface than the light color ink chamber, preventing ink mixing and maintaining the cleanliness of the light color nozzles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction cap is made rockable to tolerate nozzle surface position variation, then the contact reliability between suction cap and nozzle surface is improved, but ink may flow out of one cap chamber over the partition wall into another ink chamber causing contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is designed with asymmetric inclination where the deep color ink chamber side is higher than the light color ink chamber side. This asymmetric structure prevents deep color ink from flowing into the light color ink chamber during the suction cap's rocking motion, while still allowing the cap to tolerate position variations. The higher partition wall on the deep color ink side acts as a barrier against ink contamination.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the suction cap is provided with a partition wall to separate deep color and light color nozzles, then ink mixing between chambers is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The suction cap's cap chamber is segmented into two separate ink chambers (deep color ink chamber and light color ink chamber) by a partition wall. This segmentation prevents ink mixing between different color nozzles while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The partition wall creates independent suction spaces for each ink type without requiring multiple separate caps.
3Area of stationary object
If the deep color ink chamber is positioned closer to the nozzle surface, then the suction cap can cover more nozzles, but deep color ink may adhere to light color nozzles causing dirtiness
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is positioned asymmetrically such that the deep color ink chamber side is higher than the light color ink chamber side. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that even when the suction cap covers a large area, the higher partition wall prevents deep color ink from adhering to or contaminating the light color nozzles, while still maintaining comprehensive nozzle coverage.
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 design effectively suppresses the adhesion of deep color ink to light color nozzles and prevents contamination, ensuring the light color nozzles remain clean and functional during the suction purge process.
Implementation Method 1
the suction mechanism performs suction operation via the suction port, thereby removing ink solid matter, etc. clogged in the nozzles
Implementation Method 2
an urging mechanism which urges a corner portion of the suction cap in a third direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an ink discharge apparatus including a discharge head provided with a nozzle surface having a first nozzle which is formed in the nozzle surface and via which a liquid droplet of a first ink is discharged and a second nozzle which is formed in the nozzle surface and via which a liquid droplet of a second ink, having a color deeper than a color of the first ink, is discharged; a maintenance device which performs maintenance of the discharge head; and an apparatus body in which the maintenance device is arranged. The maintenance device includes a suction cap which is arranged with respect to the apparatus body, with a predetermined clearance, so the suction cap is rockable three-dimensionally; and an urging mechanism which urges a corner portion of the suction cap in a direction orthogonal to the nozzle surface.