top of page
Piezo-Actuation-Assisted Printhead Cleaning for Better Results: Unified Print Head Cleaning and Testing System
News
May 17, 2025
Jetting Print Heads During Cleaning Helps Increase Recovery Rate
The unified system* comprising the Print Head Doctor (PHD) and the Print Head Tester (PHT) now intelligently actuates piezo crystals inside a print head during cleaning cycles. This innovative approach reduces overall cleaning time and increases the percentage of successful cleaning outcomes (also known as the recovery rate). Piezo actuation, precisely controlled by the unified system, is now embedded into the cleaning programs, with actuation frequency, pattern, and duration strategically fine-tuned to achieve best results.
Key Advantages of Piezo-Assisted Cleaning
This unified cleaning approach delivers a deeper, faster, and more effective cleaning process, significantly improving recovery rates, especially for severely clogged print heads. By integrating precise piezo actuation into the cleaning cycles, the system further reduces cleaning time and increases the likelihood of successful recoveries. The result: shorter printer downtime, improved operational efficiency, and more consistent, high-quality output.
Why Does It Work?
The power behind this enhanced cleaning performance lies in the synergy between chemical action and precisely controlled mechanical assistance.
Think of it like this: traditional chemical cleaning relies on chemicals to dissolve or loosen ink deposits. This is effective, but sometimes stubborn clogs need an extra push. That’s where actuating the print head’s own piezoelectric crystals comes in. When these crystals are activated while the head is filled with a specialized cleaning solution, they generate microscopic vibrations and fluid motion right where it's needed most - inside the tiny nozzle channels.
This piezo-powered agitation works in several key ways:
-
Supercharged Chemical Delivery: The vibrations act like a microscopic pump, creating pressure waves that help the cleaning solution penetrate deeper and more quickly into the solidified ink. This ensures the chemicals can act on the entire clog without requiring excessive external pressure.
-
​Active Debris Dislodgement: The mechanical energy generated by the piezo elements effectively shakes and scrubs the ink deposits. This physical action breaks down stubborn blockages that may resist chemical dissolution alone, like having a tiny, high-precision scrubbing brush inside each nozzle.
-
Efficient Debris Evacuation: Once the ink particles are loosened or dissolved, the induced fluid motion helps flush them out more effectively than standard flushing alone.
The strength of this integrated solution lies in the precise control offered by the unified system. By carefully timing the piezo actuation, adjusting its frequency, pattern, and duration, within the unified system’s chemical flushing cycles, we have optimized the mechanical forces for different types of clogs and cleaning stages.This targeted approach delivers better results, in many cases using milder cleaning solutions or shorter cleaning times, which is ultimately gentler on delicate print head components.
The Result
A more thorough, efficient, and successful cleaning process, leading to higher recovery rates and quicker turnaround times. This means less downtime for your printers and more consistent, high-quality output.
Note: * The term "unified system" refers to any implementation that includes the Print Head Doctor (PHD), the Print Head Tester (PHT), or both, whether integrated, operating in coordination, or functioning independently.
Contact us for more information at www.PrintHeadDoctor.com and www.PrintHeadTester.com.
bottom of page