Rotating Inkjet Head Cooling for Nozzle Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid droplet ejecting apparatuses face ejection defects such as nozzle clogging due to temperature rise when the medium is heated, leading to reduced printing quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus with a heating section for the medium and a head unit that can rotate to position one head for cooling by a head cooling unit, ensuring rapid cooling of all heads and preventing nozzle clogging, along with flexible supply flow paths that allow bidirectional rotation to prevent tautness and maintain smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the medium is heated to dry liquid droplets, then drying efficiency is improved, but the head temperature rises causing nozzle clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The head unit is divided into multiple independent heads (first head and second head) that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows the system to alternate between heads, enabling one head to cool down while another performs ejection, thereby preventing temperature-related nozzle clogging while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The head unit is made rotatable about a rotation shaft, transforming it from a static to a dynamic component. This dynamic positioning capability allows the heads to be moved between the ejection position (facing the medium) and the cooling position (facing the head cooling unit), enabling active temperature management during continuous ejection operations.
2Reliability
If the head unit rotates to cool heads, then ejection defects are suppressed, but supply flow paths may become taut and hinder rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The supply flow paths are designed as flexible tubes that can bend and deform. This flexibility allows the flow paths to accommodate the rotational movement of the head unit without becoming taut or restricting rotation, ensuring smooth operation while maintaining liquid supply to the heads during cooling cycles.
3Productivity
If multiple heads are provided around the rotation direction, then continuous ejection is maintained during cooling, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heads are integrated into a single rotatable head unit, which serves dual functions: performing liquid droplet ejection onto the medium and receiving cooling from the head cooling unit. This multi-functional design enables continuous ejection operation while managing head temperature, as one head can eject while another cools down, without requiring separate independent systems.
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
The apparatus effectively suppresses ejection defects by rapidly cooling the heads using a dedicated cooling unit, maintaining printing quality and preventing nozzle clogging, while allowing flexible rotation to manage supply flow paths and ensure continuous operation.
Implementation Method 1
a heating section capable of heating a medium transported over a support platform
Implementation Method 2
heat of the heating section is, for example, conducted to a head that ejects liquid droplets onto the medium
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device includes a heating section capable of heating paper P transported over a support platform, a head unit that is disposed at a position facing the support platform with a gap therebetween, and that is capable of rotating about a rotation shaft extending along width direction X, and a head cooling unit that is capable of cooling the head unit. The head unit is provided with a first head that includes a nozzle capable of ejecting ink, a second head that includes a nozzle capable of ejecting ink, and a third head that includes a nozzle capable of ejecting ink, with the heads provided around a rotation direction of the head unit with gaps between one another. When one head out of the respective heads faces the paper P, another head out of the respective heads can be made to face the head cooling unit.