Server-Based Nozzle State Detection for Targeted Print Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing technologies determine maintenance for all nozzles uniformly, leading to potential over-maintenance and wear of other parts, as the degree of malfunction varies among nozzles, and cleaning intensity is not easily optimized.
Innovation Solution
A server connected via a network to a printing apparatus acquires nozzle information, determines which nozzles need cleaning based on their state, and instructs the apparatus to perform targeted cleaning with appropriate intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance process is determined for the entire print head uniformly, then the malfunction of nozzles can be resolved, but some nozzles will require excessive maintenance and other parts such as ink tubes will experience excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the print head into individual nozzles and performs maintenance on a per-nozzle basis rather than uniformly across the entire print head. The control unit determines which specific nozzles require maintenance based on their individual states, allowing targeted cleaning only where needed. This segmentation approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through effective nozzle maintenance while minimizing wear on other parts by avoiding unnecessary uniform maintenance across all nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating each nozzle according to its specific condition rather than applying uniform maintenance to all nozzles. The control unit assesses the state of each nozzle individually and determines the appropriate maintenance level for that specific location. This allows the system to provide high-quality maintenance where needed while avoiding excessive maintenance in areas that don't require it, thereby reducing wear on connected components like ink tubes.
2Manufacturing precision
If cleaning menu determines optimal cleaning based on nozzle state, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but it is not easy to improve the determination process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external server as an intermediary to handle the complex determination process. Instead of embedding complex determination logic within the printer's control unit, the control unit communicates with the server, which performs the sophisticated analysis of nozzle states and determines optimal cleaning parameters. This intermediary approach improves cleaning effectiveness through advanced algorithms while keeping the printer itself relatively simple, as the complex processing is offloaded to the server.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/deterministic decision-making process within the printer with an information-based system that communicates with an external server. The determination of cleaning needs is transformed from a local mechanical decision process into a remote information processing task. This substitution allows for more sophisticated determination algorithms to be applied without increasing the physical complexity of the printer hardware or control unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A server connected via a network to a printing apparatus including a plurality of nozzles includes an acquisition unit that acquires nozzle information indicating a state of the plurality of nozzles, a determination unit that determines, among the plurality of nozzles, a nozzle to be cleaned based on the nozzle information acquired by the acquisition unit, and an instruction unit that instructs the printing apparatus to perform cleaning on the nozzle to be cleaned determined by the determination unit.