Wiper Mount Spring Assembly for Ink Jet Printer Nozzle Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wiper mount structures in ink jet printers often experience a stick-slip effect and non-uniform cleaning due to the wiper's inability to move smoothly over the nozzle plate when it is askew, leading to incomplete cleaning of the nozzle surface.
Innovation Solution
A wiper mount design featuring a spring assembly with parallel leaf spring portions and a torsion spring, allowing the wiper to move transversely and rotate, ensuring the wiper remains parallel to the nozzle face even when the nozzle plate is not perfectly aligned, thus preventing stick-slip and ensuring uniform cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper is biased against the nozzle surface with spring force, then the wiper engages the nozzle surface with pressure for effective cleaning, but the wiper cannot move smoothly in transverse direction when the nozzle plate is askew, causing stick-slip effect
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper mount structure incorporates a transverse movement mechanism that allows the holder and wiper to move dynamically in the transverse direction while maintaining contact pressure through the spring assembly. This dynamic adjustment enables the wiper to follow the edges of the askew nozzle plate without causing stick-slip effect, while the spring maintains sufficient biasing force for effective cleaning.
2Area of stationary object
If the wiper width is larger than the nozzle face width to sweep over the entire surface, then complete coverage is achieved, but the wiper edges project over the nozzle plate causing increased friction and stick-slip effect
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to move in the transverse direction, allowing the wiper to dynamically adjust its position. This enables the wiper to follow the edges of the nozzle plate when it is askew, preventing the projected edges from causing stick-slip effect while maintaining complete coverage of the nozzle face.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rail is not exactly parallel to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle plate, then the wiper mount can accommodate misalignment, but the wiper becomes displaced in transverse direction causing uneven pressure distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse movement capability of the holder allows the wiper to dynamically compensate for rail misalignment. As the wiper mount moves along the rail, the holder can shift in the transverse direction to maintain the wiper's proper orientation and pressure distribution across the nozzle face, even when the rail is not perfectly parallel to the nozzle plate's longitudinal direction.
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
The wiper mount enables smooth and uniform cleaning of the nozzle surface by allowing the wiper to follow the nozzle plate's edges and rotate with it, preventing stick-slip and maintaining consistent contact, thereby improving cleaning performance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring assembly capable of elastically biasing the holder and the wiper held therein against a nozzle face of the nozzle plate
Implementation Method 2
capable of elastically yielding to a rotation of the wiper about an axis in parallel with the longitudinal direction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2~3
AI summary
A wiper mount structure in an ink jet printer, wherein a wiper mount (10) is arranged to move along a nozzle plate (18) of a print head of the printer in a longitudinal direction (x) of the nozzle plate and comprises a holder (12) for holding a wiper (14), and a spring assembly (30, 32, 38) capable of elastically biasing the holder (12) and the wiper (14) against a nozzle face (16) of the nozzle plate (18) and capable of elastically yielding to a rotation of the wiper (14) about an axis (A) in parallel with the longitudinal direction (x), wherein the spring assembly (30, 32, 38) is arranged to elastically yield to a displacement of the wiper (14) in a transverse direction (y) in parallel with the nozzle face (16) and normal to the longitudinal direction.