Segmented Cap Member for Inkjet Nozzle Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ink jet printers, large cap members that extend over the width of paper often suffer from poor adherence to the head due to insufficient rigidity, leading to gaps and inefficiencies in nozzle closure, which can cause ink vaporization and image quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A fluid discharging apparatus with a head, medium support portion, and actuator system where a contact member with sufficient rigidity is used to ensure proper alignment and closure of nozzles, moving between contact and discharging positions to prevent ink loss and vaporization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a large cap member is used to cover all nozzles, then nozzle coverage is improved, but adherence to the head deteriorates due to insufficient rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The cap member is divided into multiple separate cap members, each covering a portion of the nozzles. This segmentation allows each cap member to maintain sufficient rigidity while collectively covering all nozzles, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and adherence reliability.
2Reliability
If separate cap members are used, then adherence is improved, but gaps between cap members and head occur due to insufficient rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the cap member into multiple smaller segments, each segment maintains adequate rigidity to prevent gap formation with the head, while the collective arrangement ensures complete nozzle coverage without gaps between cap members.
3Area of stationary object
If cap member size is increased to cover overall paper width, then nozzle coverage is improved, but rigidity decreases leading to poor adherence
Solution Approach 1:
The large cap member is segmented into multiple smaller cap members, each with sufficient rigidity to maintain proper adherence to the head. The segmented design allows each unit to be rigid while the collective arrangement covers the entire paper width.
4Reliability
If cap member rigidity is increased, then adherence is improved, but flexibility to conform to head surface decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Segmenting the cap member allows each small unit to be rigid for good adherence while the collection of segments can collectively conform to the head surface geometry, resolving the contradiction between rigidity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid discharging apparatus including a head, a medium support portion, a contact member, and an actuator portion. The head includes a plurality of nozzles through which a fluid is discharged onto a target medium. The medium support portion supports the medium. The contact member is provided within the medium support portion. The actuator portion moves at least one of the head and the medium support portion so that the plurality of nozzles are located close to or far from the contact member. During a standby state when fluid is not discharged onto the medium, the contact member is brought into contact with the head in order to seal the plurality of nozzles, and in a discharging state, the head is located away from the contact member in order to provide a space through which the medium is allowed to pass between the plurality of nozzles and the contact member.