18366993. IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD simplified abstract (Konica Minolta, Inc.)

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IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

Organization Name

Konica Minolta, Inc.

Inventor(s)

Hajime Kawakami of Tokyo (JP)

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18366993 titled 'IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes an image forming apparatus that discharges droplets to form an image on a recording medium. The apparatus includes multiple recording heads with cleaning devices to maintain their functionality.

  • Carriage moving recording head
  • First recording head discharging resin droplets
  • Second recording head discharging smaller resin droplets
  • First cleaning device for the first recording head
  • Second cleaning device for the second recording head

Potential Applications

The technology can be used in various printing devices such as inkjet printers, 3D printers, and industrial printing machines.

Problems Solved

The apparatus solves the problem of maintaining the functionality of recording heads by providing cleaning devices for each head, ensuring consistent and high-quality image formation.

Benefits

The benefits of this technology include improved print quality, reduced maintenance requirements, and increased longevity of recording heads.

Potential Commercial Applications

  • "Inkjet Printing Technology for High-Quality Images"

Possible Prior Art

There are existing patents related to cleaning devices for recording heads in inkjet printers, but this specific combination of multiple recording heads with individual cleaning devices may be a novel innovation.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology compare to existing image forming apparatus in terms of efficiency and maintenance requirements?

This article does not provide a direct comparison with existing technologies in the market. It would be helpful to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this innovation compared to current solutions.

What is the cost implication of implementing this technology in commercial printing devices?

The article does not mention the cost implications of integrating this technology into commercial printing devices. Understanding the cost-effectiveness of this innovation is crucial for businesses considering its adoption.


Original Abstract Submitted

An image forming apparatus that discharges droplets, while moving a recording head relative to a recording medium in a main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, to form an image, includes: a carriage; a first recording head that has a first discharge face having a hole, is disposed on the carriage, and discharges a first droplet containing resin through the hole; a second recording head that has a second discharge face having a hole, is disposed on the carriage, and discharges, through the hole, a second droplet containing resin less than the resin contained in the first droplet; a first cleaning device that wipes the first discharge face to clean the first recording head; and a second cleaning device that is different from the first cleaning device and that wipes the second discharge face to clean the second recording head.