Sloped Liquid-Receiving Face for Ink Flow Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

In liquid ejection devices, ink with poor re-dissolvability or re-dispersibility that accumulates on absorbent materials during flushing can lead to printing defects due to the absorbent material becoming clogged with dried ink, preventing further ink absorption and causing issues like missing dots or other printing errors.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejection device with a sloped liquid-receiving face on a cylindrical pipe that allows ink ejected during flushing to flow away instead of being absorbed, preventing accumulation and subsequent printing defects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If ink is absorbed into absorbent material during flushing, then ink is captured and prevented from spreading, but the absorbent material becomes clogged with dried ink and loses absorption capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink spreadingVSAvoidabsorbent material functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid-receiving face is divided into multiple regions with different surface properties: a first region with high surface energy for initial ink absorption and a second region with low surface energy for ink repulsion. This segmentation allows the face to perform multiple functions - capturing ink while preventing it from accumulating and clogging the absorbent material below.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the liquid-receiving face are given different surface energy characteristics. The first region has high surface energy to promote ink absorption and spreading, while the second region has low surface energy to repel ink and prevent accumulation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing selective ink interaction with different surface zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-generated harmful factors

If absorbent material is used to catch ejected ink, then ink is contained, but dried ink fills the voids and prevents further absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveink containmentVSAvoidink absorption capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ink containment function from the absorbent material and transfers it to the liquid-receiving face with specific surface energy properties. By using the surface energy characteristics of the face itself rather than relying solely on the absorbent material's voids, the system prevents ink from penetrating and clogging the absorbent material while still containing the ink effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The liquid-receiving face acts as an intermediary between the ejected ink and the absorbent material. It provides a controlled interface that captures ink through surface energy effects while preventing direct penetration into the absorbent material's voids, thus protecting the absorption capacity for future use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If flushing is performed to eliminate foreign substances from nozzles, then nozzle performance is maintained, but ink accumulates on absorbent material and causes printing defects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle performanceVSAvoidprinting quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful accumulation of ink during flushing into a beneficial surface energy effect. By designing the liquid-receiving face with specific surface energy characteristics, the ink that would otherwise accumulate and cause defects is instead repelled and directed away, transforming the flushing process from a source of printing defects to a maintenance procedure that preserves both nozzle performance and printing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

Prevents printing defects by ensuring ink ejected during flushing flows off the sloped surface and is collected, maintaining the absorbent material's ability to absorb ink, thus avoiding clogging and maintaining printing quality.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid-receiving face is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected from the head when flushing is carried out by the head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

ink that has been ejected toward a flushing box is absorbed into an absorbent material disposed inside the flushing box

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

the voids of the absorbent material become filled with dried ink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS9073372B2Liquid ejection device

Publication Date: 2015.07.07 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejection device includes a head, a liquid-receiving face and a flushing box. The head is configured and arranged to eject a liquid. The liquid-receiving face is configured and arranged to receive the liquid ejected from the head when flushing is carried out by the head. The flushing box is configured and arranged to receive the liquid deposited on the liquid-receiving face and dripped from the liquid-receiving face.