Wiper Projection Suppresses Restoring Force to Prevent Ink Scattering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid discharge apparatuses with wipers suffer from reduced wiping performance due to the spring's weakening of the pressure when the wiper contacts the nozzle surface, leading to ink scattering issues.
Innovation Solution
A wiper design with a projection that extends in the wiping direction to suppress the restoring force after the wiping part separates from the nozzle surface, preventing ink scattering without the need for additional components, thus maintaining wiping performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a spring is provided to suppress the restoring force of the wiper, then the restoring speed is reduced and ink scattering is prevented, but the wiping performance is lowered due to weakened pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a wiping part with high restoring force for effective cleaning, and a projection with suppressed restoring force for controlled retraction. This segmentation allows the wiping part to maintain high pressure on the nozzle surface while the projection prevents ink scattering during recovery, resolving the contradiction between wiping performance and ink scattering prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the wiper are given different mechanical properties. The wiping part is designed with material composition and structural characteristics that provide high restoring force for effective wiping, while the projection is designed with characteristics that suppress restoring force to prevent ink scattering. This local differentiation of properties allows simultaneous optimization of both wiping performance and ink scattering control.
2Reliability
If the projection is designed to make contact with the lower surface of the head after the wiping part separates, then the restoring force is suppressed without affecting wiping performance, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is integrated as an inherent part of the wiper body rather than being a separate component. This merging of functions into a single integrated structure achieves the dual purpose of maintaining wiping performance through the wiping part while suppressing restoring force through the projection, without increasing device complexity through additional separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection automatically performs the function of suppressing restoring force through its own geometric design and contact sequence with the head. The structure is self-regulating: as the wiper moves away from the nozzle surface, the projection naturally contacts the lower surface of the head first, automatically controlling the retraction speed and preventing ink scattering without requiring external control mechanisms.
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 configuration effectively suppresses ink scattering and maintains the wiping performance by controlling the wiper's restoring speed and force, reducing manufacturing costs by integrating the projection into the wiper body.
Implementation Method 1
a spring applying a force in an opposite direction to a restoring force, of the wiper, by which the wiper deformed by the contact with the nozzle surface of the head attempts to be restored to the original shape thereof
Implementation Method 2
a restoring force, of the wiper, by which the wiper deformed by the contact with the nozzle surface of the head attempts to be restored to the original shape thereof
Data Source
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AI summary
A liquid discharge apparatus includes: a head having a lower surface including a nozzle surface in which a nozzle is opened; a wiper making contact with the nozzle surface of the head and wiping the nozzle surface; and a driving part driving at least one of the wiper and the head to thereby cause the wiper to move relative to the head toward one side in a wiping direction in a state that the wiper makes contact with the nozzle surface. The wiper has: a wiper body having a wiping part wiping the nozzle surface, and a projection projecting from the wiper body toward the other side in the wiping direction. After the wiping part of the wiper body is separated from an end part on the one side in the wiping direction of the nozzle surface, the projection makes contact with the lower surface of the head.