Supply Member Bevel for Ink-Jet Cleaning Liquid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink-jet recording apparatuses face issues with ink clogging in nozzles due to increased viscosity during non-use periods, leading to potential ink fallout or sticking during image formation, necessitating effective nozzle surface cleaning techniques.
Innovation Solution
An ink-jet recording apparatus incorporating a wiping unit with a blade and a supply member that supplies cleaning liquid, where the supply member has a beveled design to prevent cleaning liquid from entering the space between the nozzle plate and the supply member, ensuring efficient ink removal and minimizing interference with the nozzle surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blade is used to wipe the nozzle surface, then ink removal effectiveness is improved, but cleaning liquid may enter the space between the nozzle plate and supply member causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The ridge of the supply member is provided with a curve smoothly connecting the bottom surface and the side surface, which guides the cleaning liquid to flow along the curved path and prevents it from entering the space between the nozzle plate and supply member, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining effective nozzle cleaning
2Reliability
If cleaning liquid is supplied to the blade, then ink removal capability is improved, but cleaning liquid may scatter and cause fallout during image formation
Solution Approach 1:
The supply member has a dimension in the widthwise direction that is smaller than the blade, creating a localized cleaning liquid supply zone that is precisely controlled and prevents excessive cleaning liquid from scattering and causing fallout during image formation operations
Data Source
AI summary
An ink-jet recording apparatus includes an ink-jet head, a head lift, a blade, and a supply member. The ink-jet head includes a nozzle plate. The head lift moves the ink-jet head up and down. The blade performs a wiping action along a nozzle surface of the nozzle plate. The supply member is provided upstream of the nozzle plate in a forward direction of the wiping action, has a dimension in a widthwise direction intersecting the forward direction smaller than the blade, and supplies a cleaning liquid to the blade upon contact with a top edge of the blade. A ridge of the supply member where a bottom surface of the supply member meets a side surface of the supply member is provided with a bevel tilted to the bottom surface and the side surface or a curve smoothly connecting the bottom surface and the side surface.