Wiper Cleaning Position for Liquid Discharge Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In inkjet recording apparatuses, the wiper blade may reattach ink during movement to the wiping start position, leading to deteriorated wiping performance due to the proximity of the scraping wall and ink absorbing member to the wiping end position.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge apparatus with a wiper cleaning position aligned between the wiping start and end positions, allowing the wiper to be cleaned before each wiping operation, reducing the likelihood of reattachment and maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the scraping wall and ink absorbing member are arranged at the wiping end position, then the wiper can be cleaned after wiping, but the wiper may reattach ink during movement to the wiping start position, deteriorating wiping performance
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper cleaning position is positioned at the wiping end side, allowing the wiper to be cleaned in advance before the wiping operation begins. This preliminary cleaning action prevents ink reattachment during the wiper's movement to the wiping start position, ensuring the wiper maintains its cleaning effectiveness throughout the wiping process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the wiper cleaning process by positioning the cleaning function at the end of the wiping stroke. This creates a sequence where cleaning occurs after one wipe completes and before the next wipe begins, effectively separating the cleaning action from the wiping action in time and space, thus preventing ink reattachment
2Reliability
If the wiper cleaning position is located near the wiping end position, then cleaning can be performed before the next wiping operation, but the distance from cleaning position to wiping start position increases movement time
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper cleaning position is integrated into the existing wiping motion path at the end position, allowing the wiper to be cleaned during the return stroke without requiring additional movement or time. The cleaning action occurs continuously as part of the normal wiping cycle, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive operation
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
Prevents ink reattachment to the wiper, thereby maintaining effective wiping performance by ensuring the wiper is clean before initiating each wiping operation.
Implementation Method 1
a wiper blade which wipes off ink attached on a bottom part of the head cap at the maintenance operation... the wiper blade is cleaned with the ink absorbing member
Implementation Method 2
The first wiper is configured to wipe liquid attached on the liquid receiving surface while being moved with contacting the liquid receiving surface
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes a discharge head including a discharge surface, a receiving surface which receives discharged liquid, a wiper which wipes the receiving surface, a moving device which moves the wiper, a cleaning device which cleans the wiper, and a control device which controls the moving device to move the wiper while contacting the receiving surface, from a wiping start position at one end of the receiving surface to a wiping end position at the other end and to move the wiper from a cleaning position to the wiping start position. The cleaning position is located at an opposite side to the wiping end position with respect to the wiping start position, and a distance from the cleaning position to the wiping start position is smaller than a distance from the wiping end position to the wiping start position.