Wiping Assembly for Liquid Ejection Head with Dual-Surface Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wiping assemblies for liquid ejection heads often fail to clean both surfaces of the wiper effectively, leading to ink adherence on the back side surface, which can cause bending issues and other operational inconveniences.

Innovation Solution

A wiping assembly with a wiper and a wiper cleaner that includes a protruding portion with inclined cleaning surfaces, allowing the wiper to be moved in opposite directions to contact both surfaces of the wiper cleaner, ensuring thorough cleaning of both the first and second wiper surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the wiper is cleaned by pressing it against a contact surface of the wiper cleaner, then the wiping surface is cleaned effectively, but the back side surface of the wiper is not cleaned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidcoverage of cleaning surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper cleaner is divided into two separate contact surfaces: a first contact surface for cleaning the wiping surface of the wiper, and a second contact surface for cleaning the back side surface of the wiper. This segmentation allows each surface to be optimized for its specific cleaning function, ensuring both surfaces of the wiper are effectively cleaned without compromising cleaning effectiveness or coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism transitions from a single-dimensional cleaning approach (one contact surface) to a two-dimensional approach (two contact surfaces facing opposite directions). By adding the second contact surface that faces in the opposite direction to the first contact surface, the system can clean both sides of the wiper, expanding the coverage of cleaning surfaces while maintaining effective cleaning contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the wiper is made flexible to conform to the liquid ejection head, then wiping performance is improved, but the wiper may bend or deform when liquid adheres to the back side surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiping performanceVSAvoidwiper shape stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper cleaner performs preliminary cleaning of the back side surface of the wiper by removing liquid before the liquid can adhere and cause bending. The second contact surface is designed to clean the back side surface proactively, preventing the condition that would lead to wiper deformation and maintaining shape stability while preserving the flexibility needed for good wiping performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a single contact surface is used for cleaning the wiper, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cleaning coverage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiper cleaner structureVSAvoidcleaning surface area

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper cleaner merges two cleaning functions into a single integrated device. The first contact surface and second contact surface are combined in one wiper cleaner unit, allowing both surfaces of the wiper to be cleaned by the same device without requiring separate cleaning mechanisms, thus maintaining simplicity while increasing cleaning surface area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design enables complete cleaning of both wiper surfaces, preventing ink adherence and maintaining wiper flexibility, thus enhancing the wiping assembly's performance and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a wiper cleaner that cleans the wiper by using an absorbent material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

an absorbent material that absorbs an ink

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS10946662B2Wiping assembly for liquid ejection head and ink jet printer

Publication Date: 2021.03.16 ROLAND DG CORP

AI summary

A wiping assembly for a liquid ejection head includes a wiper including a first wiper surface facing in a first direction and a second wiper surface facing in a second direction, a wiper cleaner, a mover, and a controller. A protruding portion of the wiper cleaner includes a first cleaning surface facing in the second direction and a second cleaning surface facing in the first direction. The controller controls the mover to move at least one of the wiper and the wiper cleaner in at least one of the first and second directions from a state in which the wiper is located farther in the second direction than the protruding portion to bring the first wiper surface into contact with the first cleaning surface, and to move the at least one of the wiper and the wiper cleaner in at least one of the first and second directions from a state in which the wiper is located farther in the first direction than the protruding portion to bring the second wiper surface into contact with the second cleaning surface.