Wiper Sweeping Path for Liquid Ejecting Head Nozzle Plate Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet type recording apparatuses face issues with unstable ink droplet discharge direction, discharging failure, and wiper blade lifespan due to contact with nozzle plate edges, leading to damage and separation of liquid repellent films, especially when using silicon single crystal substrates.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus design where the wiper sweeps the protection member surface towards the nozzle plate side, then moves between nozzle openings and the nozzle plate edge, avoiding direct contact with the nozzle plate edge, thus preventing film separation and wiper wear, and ensuring reliable cleaning of nozzle openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper sweeps the liquid ejection surface directly contacting the nozzle plate end portion, then the cleaning effect is improved, but the liquid repellent film is separated and the wiper lifespan is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejection surface is divided into two distinct regions: a first region where the wiper performs sweeping motion to clean ink and debris, and a second region that serves as a landing area where the wiper rests after sweeping. This segmentation prevents the wiper from contacting the nozzle plate end portion while maintaining effective cleaning of the liquid ejection surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The second region acts as an intermediary zone between the sweeping action and the nozzle plate. By providing this intermediate landing area, the wiper is guided to rest in a position that avoids direct contact with the vulnerable nozzle plate end portion and liquid repellent film, thereby preventing film separation and extending wiper lifespan.
2Reliability
If the wiper contacts the nozzle plate end portion during sweeping, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the liquid repellent film separation is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejection surface is segmented into a sweeping region and a landing region. The sweeping region ensures adequate cleaning coverage while the landing region boundary is positioned to prevent wiper contact with the nozzle plate end portion, thereby protecting the liquid repellent film from separation while maintaining effective cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The second region serves as a protective intermediary that guides the wiper to a safe resting position. This intermediate zone ensures that the wiper completes its sweeping motion with full coverage while being prevented from contacting the nozzle plate end portion that would cause liquid repellent film separation.
3Reliability
If the wiper is made to contact the nozzle plate corner portion for cleaning, then the cleaning effectiveness is improved, but the wiper is cut and worn out
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejection surface is divided into a sweeping area for cleaning and a landing area for wiper rest. This segmentation allows the wiper to achieve effective cleaning coverage without extending its motion to contact the nozzle plate corner portion, thereby preventing wiper cutting and extending wiper durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The second region acts as an intermediary that defines the boundary of the wiper's motion. By providing this landing zone, the wiper is guided to stop before contacting the nozzle plate corner portion, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while preventing mechanical damage to the wiper blade.
4Strength
If the wiper skips over the nozzle opening, then the nozzle plate is protected from contact, but unwiped remnants are left around the nozzle opening
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid ejection surface is segmented into zones that ensure the wiper's sweeping path passes close to or over the nozzle openings. This segmentation allows the wiper to clean around the nozzle openings effectively without contacting the nozzle plate end portion, preventing both film separation and discharging failures caused by unwiped remnants.
Solution Approach 2:
The second region serves as an intermediary that guides the wiper to maintain optimal positioning during sweeping. This ensures the wiper cleans around the nozzle openings thoroughly while being prevented from contacting the nozzle plate, thus avoiding both unwiped remnants and mechanical damage.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid ejecting apparatus including a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid through nozzle openings, and a wiper that sweeps a liquid ejection surface side of the liquid ejecting head, in which the liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle plate having the liquid ejection surface and a protection member that protrudes further on a liquid discharging side than the nozzle plate, and the wiper sweeps a surface of the protection member, which is an exterior surface of the protection member intended to be swept, toward the nozzle plate side, and then the wiper sweeps the liquid ejection surface so that the wiper moves away from the surface of the protection member and comes into contact with a portion between the nozzle openings on the nozzle plate and an end portion of the nozzle plate, which is located on an opposite side in a sweeping direction.