Aerodynamic Element for Inkjet Print Head Turbulence Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inkjet printers face inaccuracies in positioning dots on recording media, particularly with thicker materials like corrugated board, due to turbulent air flows generated at the intake edge, leading to deflected ink droplets and poor print quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inkjet printer with a movement means that includes an aerodynamic element to maintain a constant clearance below the nozzle plate, reducing turbulence and eddies by converging the clearance to a reference value, ensuring a laminar air flow and precise dot placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the recording medium is thicker (e.g., corrugated board up to 1 cm), then the adaptability to different media types is improved, but the positioning accuracy of dots deteriorates due to turbulent air flows at the intake edge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an aerodynamic element as an intermediary component between the nozzle plate and the recording medium. This element mediates the air flow in the clearance region, preventing turbulence from affecting ink droplet trajectories. The aerodynamic element absorbs the adverse effects of thick media while maintaining precise dot positioning, allowing the system to handle various media types without sacrificing accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the clearance below the nozzle plate varies due to medium thickness, then the adaptability to different media is improved, but the air flow becomes turbulent causing ink droplet deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of varying clearance (which causes turbulence) into a beneficial outcome. The aerodynamic element is specifically designed to work with the varying clearance caused by different media thicknesses, transforming what would be a source of turbulence into a controlled flow condition. The element's geometry is optimized to guide air flow smoothly even when clearance varies, thereby eliminating turbulence while maintaining adaptability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the aerodynamic element is introduced to reduce turbulence, then the positioning accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic element is designed with local quality - its geometry and properties are specifically optimized for the critical region where air flow turbulence occurs (the clearance area below the nozzle plate). Rather than making the entire device complex, the solution focuses aerodynamic optimization only where needed - in the specific zone between the nozzle plate and recording medium intake edge - thereby achieving positioning accuracy improvement with minimal added 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
This solution significantly reduces inaccuracies in dot positioning and enhances print quality by minimizing turbulent air flows, especially when printing thick or varied media, ensuring consistent and precise ink deposition.
Implementation Method 1
ensuring a laminar air flow
Implementation Method 2
reducing turbulence and eddies by converging the clearance to a reference value
Data Source
AI summary
An inkjet printer having at least one print head in which an aerodynamic element is placed before (e.g. in a transport direction) a recording medium (e.g. in the form of a sheet or page or plate) to reduce or avoid turbulences that may arise due to the relative motion between print head(s) and recording medium at an edge of the recording medium.