Actuator Unit Restrictor for Liquid Discharge Head Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid discharge heads face challenges in maintaining consistent discharging performance across multiple nozzles due to variations in the movement amount of the needle valve, which are affected by positional inaccuracies and thermal expansion, leading to inconsistencies in ink discharge.
Innovation Solution
An actuator unit comprising a piezoelectric element, a valve body, a support, and a movement mechanism with a restrictor that regulates the relative positions, allowing the valve body to move in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element, while the restrictor minimizes thermal expansion effects and ensures precise positional accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the needle valve movement amount is increased to improve discharge consistency, then the valve body movement range is expanded, but the positional accuracy requirement becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator unit is divided into functionally independent modules: piezoelectric element, support, movement mechanism, and restrictor. Each module performs a specific function, allowing precise control of the needle valve movement while maintaining positional accuracy through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The restrictor acts as an intermediary component between the support and the movement mechanism. It regulates and limits the movement range of the needle valve while maintaining precise positional control, thereby achieving both improved discharge consistency and maintained positional accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the movement mechanism is made more flexible to accommodate thermal expansion, then thermal stability is improved, but the positional accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor is designed with specific dimensional parameters that compensate for thermal expansion effects. By carefully selecting the restrictor's dimensions and material properties, the system maintains positional accuracy while accommodating thermal stability requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator unit employs composite structural design combining different materials with complementary properties. The restrictor and support are designed to work together as a composite system that maintains positional accuracy while providing thermal stability through material selection and structural integration.
3Manufacturing precision
If the restrictor is added to regulate positional accuracy, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictor is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it regulates positional accuracy, limits movement range, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby improving manufacturing precision while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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
The solution reduces variations in the movement amount of the valve body, enhancing the consistency of ink discharge across multiple nozzles and improving the overall performance of the liquid discharge head by maintaining precise positional accuracy and mitigating thermal expansion issues.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element (18) that expands and contracts in an expansion-contraction direction
Implementation Method 2
The support (65) is fitted around the piezoelectric element (18) to expand and contract in the expansion-contraction direction with an expansion and a contraction of the piezoelectric element (18)
Implementation Method 3
The restrictor (63) is fixed to each of the support (65) and the fixing portion (58b) to regulate a relative position of the fixing portion (58b) to the support (65)
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator includes a piezoelectric element, a valve body, a support, a movement mechanism, and a restrictor. The piezoelectric element expands and contracts in an expansion-contraction direction. The valve body is movable in the expansion-contraction direction. The support is fitted around the piezoelectric element to expand and contract in the expansion-contraction direction with an expansion and a contraction of the piezoelectric element. The movement mechanism is coupled to the valve body and coupled to the piezoelectric element via the support. The movement mechanism moves the valve body in accordance with the expansion and the contraction of the piezoelectric element. The movement mechanism includes a fixing portion fixing a relative position of the movement mechanism to the support. The restrictor is fixed to each of the support and the fixing portion to regulate a relative position of the fixing portion to the support.