Rotating Line Head Nozzle Cleaning for 3D Printers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current line heads in printers face challenges with intermittent nozzle cleaning during printing, particularly in long-operating three-dimensional printers, where no mechanism exists for cleaning the nozzles during operation, leading to nozzle omission and defects in printed images or products.
Innovation Solution
A scanning method where the recording head rotates or loops across a recording surface, incorporating a cleaning mechanism that alternately performs printing and cleaning operations, allowing nozzles to be cleaned during the printing process by traversing a cleaning unit multiple times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a line head is used to increase printing speed, then productivity is improved, but the nozzles cannot be cleaned during operation leading to reliability deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous cleaning action during the printing process by having the line head pass through the cleaning unit multiple times while maintaining operation. The cleaning process occurs continuously alongside printing operations, eliminating the need to stop printing for maintenance while keeping nozzles clean and functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary cleaning actions by having the line head pass through the cleaning unit before actual printing operations and between printing passes. This preventive cleaning approach ensures nozzles are clean before use and maintains reliability without interrupting the overall printing productivity.
2Reliability
If printing is stopped for nozzle cleaning, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to printing interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables both printing and cleaning to occur simultaneously and continuously without interruption. The line head moves through the cleaning unit multiple times during the printing process, maintaining continuous productive action while ensuring reliable nozzle function through ongoing cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic cleaning cycles where the line head passes through the cleaning unit at regular intervals during printing operations. This periodic action maintains nozzle reliability while keeping the overall printing process continuous and productive.
3Productivity
If the number of nozzles is increased to improve printing speed, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cleaning function into multiple sequential cleaning passes rather than requiring a complex single-action cleaning system. The line head passes through the cleaning unit multiple times, with each pass handling a portion of the cleaning task, thereby managing complexity while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning unit is designed to handle multiple cleaning operations for multiple nozzles simultaneously during each pass. This multi-functional approach allows a single cleaning unit to service all nozzles through repeated passes, avoiding the need for individual cleaning mechanisms for each nozzle and reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Intended applications are for two-dimensional and three-dimensional printers. In the printing process, nozzles are arranged across the page width and moved in a loop to scan the recording surface in a circular or oval shape, facilitating simultaneous printing and nozzle cleaning. The discharged substance then flows from the nozzle. Notably, non-contact communication between the print head and printer body eliminates the need for a slip ring. The identified problem with line printers, such as difficulty in moving, cleaning, and recovering from missing nozzles, prompted the development of a solution. This involves arranging discharge nozzles or processing nozzles on a looped trajectory that crosses the cleaning portion and recording surface, facilitating efficient cleaning while aligning nozzles across the page width, akin to a line printer.