Variable Interference Wiper for Liquid Ejecting Nozzle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet-type printers, the wiper often gets stroked by the holder or head main body, causing ink adhered to the wiper to be adhered to the side surfaces, which hampers effective nozzle cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A control unit manages the movement of a wiper relative to the nozzle forming surface, adjusting interference amounts to prevent wiper stroking and ensure effective wiping by maintaining a smaller interference at the end portion and a larger interference in the nozzle region, with a scraping unit for ink removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the wiper is moved in the wiping direction to sweep away ink adhered to the ink discharge surface, then the ink on the nozzle forming surface is effectively removed, but the wiper is stroked by the corner portion of the holder or head main body, causing ink adhered to the wiper to be transferred to the side surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper's interference amount with the ink discharge surface is made variable rather than fixed. The control unit adjusts the interference amount based on the wiper's position: a first interference amount at the end portion and a second interference amount (larger than the first) in the nozzle region. This dynamic adjustment prevents the wiper from being stroked by holder corners while maintaining effective wiping contact in the nozzle region.
Solution Approach 2:
The interference amount parameter of the wiper is changed according to position. By controlling the second movement unit to adjust the wiper's vertical position, the interference amount varies from the first interference amount at the end portion to the second interference amount in the nozzle region, optimizing both prevention of ink transfer and effectiveness of wiping.
2Device complexity
If the wiper maintains a constant interference amount with the ink discharge surface, then the structure is simple, but the wiper cannot effectively prevent ink transfer to side surfaces while maintaining effective wiping contact
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static interference amount to a dynamic one controlled by the control unit. The control unit receives position information from detection units and automatically adjusts the wiper's vertical position via the second movement unit, creating a dynamic control system that adapts to different wiper positions to optimize wiping performance and prevent ink transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates detection units that monitor the wiper's position and provide feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the interference amount in real-time, ensuring the wiper maintains optimal contact in the nozzle region while preventing contact with holder corners, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit which includes a nozzle forming surface having nozzle openings for ejecting liquid formed thereon, a wiper which is contactably disposed on the nozzle forming surface, a movement unit which is able to relatively move the liquid ejecting unit and the wiper, and a control unit which controls the movement units such that an interference amount of the wiper and the nozzle forming surface in a position of the wiper which comes in contact with the liquid ejecting unit, is smaller than an interference amount of the wiper and the nozzle forming surface when the wiper is relatively moved through a nozzle region which is a region including the nozzle openings of the nozzle forming surface in a direction along the nozzle forming surface.