Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Swayable Flow Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid ejecting apparatuses face issues with pigment settling in ink tubes, leading to color irregularities and printing quality deterioration due to uneven liquid flow, especially when the ejecting head reciprocates, causing ink tubes to displace and inhibit pigment settling on the upstream side.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a swayable flow channel forming portion connected to a holding frame that moves, allowing liquid flow by swaying the flow channel during movement, and a pressure adjustment portion with a diaphragm to minimize pressure fluctuations, ensuring consistent liquid flow and preventing settling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ejecting head reciprocates while ejecting ink, then the ink tube is displaced causing ink to flow and suppressing pigment settling at the downstream side, but the ink does not flow at the upstream side connected to the stationary ink cartridge leading to pigment settling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ink cartridge movable along with the ejecting head by providing a carriage that holds both the ink cartridge and ejecting head, and moves them together. This dynamic configuration ensures that the entire ink supply system moves reciprocally, causing ink to flow throughout the entire path including both upstream and downstream portions, thereby preventing pigment settling uniformly across the system.
2Ease of operation
If the ink tube is made flexible to allow displacement during reciprocation, then ink flows at the downstream side suppressing pigment settling, but the upstream side remains stationary causing pigment settling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on flexible tube displacement, the patent makes the entire ink cartridge movable, ensuring that ink flows throughout the complete supply path. This dynamic approach guarantees uniform ink circulation and prevents pigment settling at any location in the system.
3Device complexity
If the ink cartridge is made stationary to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but pigment settling occurs in the upstream portion of the ink tube
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the ink cartridge with the ejecting head assembly by providing a carriage that holds both components together. This merged configuration allows the ink cartridge to move along with the ejecting head, ensuring uniform ink flow and pigment distribution while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes an ejecting head that is enabled to eject a liquid; a liquid supply portion for supplying the liquid from a liquid supply source to the ejecting head; a holding frame that holds the ejecting head, the liquid supply source and the liquid supply portion; and a movement mechanism that moves the holding frame. The liquid supply portion has a flow channel forming portion that forms a liquid flow channel connecting the liquid supply source and the ejecting head and a flow channel holding portion that holds the flow channel forming portion in a swayable manner.