Air-trap chamber arc shape for inkjet gas discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers face unsatisfactory air discharge properties due to air collection in the corner portions of U-shaped air-trap chambers for yellow and cyan inks, leading to inefficient gas separation and discharge.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates air-trap chambers with arc-shaped or bent portions connecting outlet ports, facilitating easy air discharge by preventing gas collection in corners and ensuring efficient air movement towards discharge passages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air-trap chambers are formed in a U-shape with right-angled corner portions, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but air is easily collected in the corner portions causing unsatisfactory air discharge property
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the right-angled corner portions of the U-shaped air-trap chamber with arc-shaped portions. This curvature modification eliminates the corner portions where air would be trapped, allowing air to flow smoothly along the curved path toward the discharge section. The arc-shaped configuration maintains manufacturing simplicity while solving the air collection problem, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and air discharge reliability.
2Volume of stationary object
If air-trap chambers use right-angled corner portions, then the chamber structure is compact, but gas separation efficiency is reduced due to air collection in corners
Solution Approach 1:
The arc-shaped portions replace right-angled corners to eliminate dead zones where air would be trapped. This curvature design maintains the compact volume of the air-trap chamber while significantly improving gas separation efficiency by ensuring continuous air flow toward the discharge section without accumulation in corners.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces asymmetry by configuring the air-trap chamber with arc-shaped portions that create an asymmetric flow path. This asymmetric design prevents symmetric air accumulation that would occur in right-angled corners, thereby improving gas separation efficiency while maintaining a compact chamber structure.
3Device complexity
If U-shaped air-trap chambers are used for multiple ink colors, then the device structure is simplified, but air discharge performance deteriorates due to corner portion air collection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the arc-shaped portion design to all air-trap chambers used for multiple ink colors (yellow, cyan, and black). This consistent curvature modification across all chambers maintains the simplified device structure with multiple color support while eliminating the air discharge performance deterioration caused by right-angled corners.
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 configuration enhances air discharge efficiency, reducing the likelihood of air entering the ink ejection nozzles and improving the overall performance of the liquid ejection device by ensuring effective gas separation and removal.
Implementation Method 1
The air collected in the upper portion of the air-trap chamber is discharged to the outside through an air discharge section connected to the air-trap chamber
Data Source
AI summary
An ink ejection device includes: a head section ejecting a plurality of kinds of inks; and an ink supply section supplying the plurality of kinds of inks to the head section. The ink supply section includes: two outlet ports which are separated from each other in a first direction intersecting with a vertical direction and through which a first kind of ink among the plurality of kinds of inks is supplied toward the head section; and an air-trap chamber in communication with the two outlet ports. The air-trap chamber protrudes to one side of a second direction intersecting with the vertical direction and the first direction relative to the two outlet ports. A portion connecting the two outlet ports of the air-trap chamber has an arc shape in a plane containing the first direction and the second direction or a bent portion of the portion connecting the two outlet ports of the air-trap chamber has an obtuse angle in the plane.