Variable Flushing Interval Controller for Inkjet Nozzle Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink-jet printing apparatuses face challenges in balancing printing time and print quality due to the interval of preliminary discharging steps, where short intervals increase printing time and long intervals lead to nozzle drying, affecting print quality.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharging apparatus with a controller that determines whether to operate in a first or second mode based on print data, adjusting flushing intervals to optimize printing speed and quality, including pre-recording and flushing processes to prevent nozzle drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the interval for executing the preliminary discharging step is shortened uniformly, then the print quality is maintained, but the printing time becomes long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flushing interval variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts the interval between preliminary discharging steps based on the discharge amount from the previous step. When discharge amount is large, a longer interval is set; when discharge amount is small, a shorter interval is set. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the flushing frequency to actual nozzle conditions, maintaining print quality while minimizing unnecessary waiting time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of flushing interval based on discharge amount. Instead of using a uniform interval, the system modifies the time parameter between preliminary discharging steps according to measured discharge characteristics. This parameter change allows the system to optimize both print quality and printing time by adjusting the interval to match actual liquid discharge behavior.
2Loss of time
If the interval for executing the preliminary discharging step is made to be long, then the printing time is reduced, but the liquid inside the nozzle is dried, which lowers the print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the flushing interval parameter based on discharge amount to prevent nozzle drying while reducing printing time. By setting longer intervals after large discharge amounts and shorter intervals after small discharge amounts, the system maintains adequate liquid presence in nozzles without excessive flushing, thus preserving print quality while minimizing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using the discharge amount from one preliminary discharging step to determine the flushing interval for the next step. The controller continuously monitors discharge characteristics and adjusts the timing of subsequent flushing operations accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that flushing intervals are optimized based on actual nozzle conditions, preventing drying while avoiding unnecessary delays.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple preliminary discharging steps are executed at short intervals, then the liquid discharge stability is improved, but the processing speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the interval between preliminary discharging steps variable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically adjusts timing based on discharge amount, executing multiple flushing steps when needed for stability but reducing intervals when discharge is already stable, thus maintaining liquid discharge stability while maximizing processing speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the time interval parameter between flushing steps based on measured discharge characteristics. When discharge amount indicates instability, longer intervals and additional flushing steps are used. When discharge is stable, intervals are shortened. This adaptive parameter change resolves the contradiction between discharge stability and processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharging apparatus includes a controller configured to execute: a recording processing, a first determining processing, a pre-recording flushing processing, a first flushing processing, and a second flushing processing. In a case that the controller determines, by the first determining processing, that the recording processing is to be executed in the second mode, the controller is configured to make a first flushing interval between the pre-recording flushing processing and the first flushing processing to be longer than a second flushing interval between the first flushing processing and the second flushing processing.