Wiping Mechanism for Liquid Ejecting Nozzle Arrays
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers require extensive reciprocating movement for wiping operations, making the process time-consuming when dealing with wide target areas or multiple target areas at separate positions.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a wiping portion that can wipe in two directions, allowing for simultaneous or sequential wiping of different target areas without returning to the original position, reducing movement distance and time by adjusting the position of the wiping member to maintain consistent contact with the ejecting portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the wiping member moves in a reciprocating manner to wipe multiple target areas, then all target areas can be wiped, but the wiping operation takes a long time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by arranging wiping target areas at different positions in a direction intersecting with the wiping movement direction. This allows the wiping member to wipe multiple areas by moving in opposite directions (first direction and second direction) rather than reciprocating along a single line, effectively utilizing two-dimensional space to reduce travel time and improve wiping efficiency.
2Productivity
If the wiping member returns to the original position after wiping one area, then the same wiping direction can be used, but the movement distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by having the wiping member wipe the second target area in the second direction (opposite to the first direction) instead of returning to the original position and wiping in the same direction. This reverses the conventional reciprocating motion pattern, allowing the wiping member to utilize its return movement productively for wiping another target area, thereby reducing total movement distance and improving efficiency.
3Length of moving object
If the length of the wiping portion is made shorter, then the apparatus size is reduced, but the ability to cover all target areas may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing a second spatial dimension (direction intersecting with the wiping movement direction) to expand coverage. Instead of increasing the length of the wiping portion in the wiping direction to cover all areas, the patent positions multiple target areas at different locations in the intersecting direction, allowing a shorter wiping portion to cover the same total area by wiping in opposite directions along different spatial paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting portion provided with a nozzle opening area in which a plurality of nozzles ejecting liquid onto a medium are open; and a wiping portion that wipes the nozzle opening area in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, in which the nozzle opening area includes a first wiping target area and a second wiping target area which are at different positions in a direction intersecting with the first direction, and the wiping portion wipes the first wiping target area in the first direction, and wipes the second wiping target area in the second direction.