Industrial Printhead Axial Vibration Distributor High Viscosity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piezoactuated printheads face limitations in handling fluids with high viscosity and high solids loading due to small construction, leading to mechanical depolarization and reduced operational power, making them unsuitable for industrial applications requiring consistent printing of small or large pigment particles.
Innovation Solution
A redesigned industrial printhead with a larger transducer configuration, increased vibrating mass, and higher input power, featuring a mass resonator, piezoelectric exciter, and conical wave concentrator arranged axially to enhance flow rate and amplitude, allowing for the printing of viscous fluids and high solids loading through a multi-nozzle system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a small construction printhead is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the piezo element may be depolarized or stop mechanically functioning due to overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the printhead by transitioning from a small construction to a large construction, increasing the size of the piezo element, mass resonator, and wave concentrator. This parameter change allows the piezo element to handle higher loads without depolarization or mechanical failure, resolving the contradiction between simplified construction and reliable operation.
2Device complexity
If a small piezo element is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the operating power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent increases the size parameters of the piezo element and associated components (mass resonator, wave concentrator), which directly enables higher input power capacity. The larger piezo element can accept and convert more electrical energy into mechanical vibration, resolving the contradiction between simple construction and sufficient operating power.
3Device complexity
If a small dissipating surface is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the piezo element may be depolarized due to overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent increases the physical dimensions of the piezo element and related components, providing a larger dissipating surface area. This allows for better heat dissipation and reduced stress concentration, preventing depolarization and mechanical failure under load, thus resolving the contradiction between simple construction and operational stability.
4Manufacturing precision
If individual nozzles are stacked at low pitch, then the printing resolution is improved, but the printhead cannot handle high viscosity fluids with high solids loading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional arrangement of individual nozzles to a three-dimensional configuration with a larger overall printhead structure. This dimensional change allows for increased flow channel capacity and vibration amplitude while maintaining nozzle pitch, enabling both high printing resolution and the ability to handle viscous fluids with high solids loading.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the flow channel system by increasing the size of the mass resonator and wave concentrator, which increases the vibration amplitude and flow rate. This allows the system to handle high viscosity fluids and high solids loading while maintaining the ability to achieve high printing resolution through proper nozzle arrangement.
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 enables reliable printing of fluids with viscosities between 100-1000 cP and particle sizes up to 500 microns, providing improved operational consistency and capability for high viscosity and high solids loading, facilitating industrial applications with enhanced flow channel resonance and focused resonance through a conical wave concentrator.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration distributor comprising a mass resonator, piezoelectric exciter and wave concentrator arranged in an axial configuration
Implementation Method 2
the flow channel is resonated, in use, by a vibration distributor comprising a mass resonator, piezoelectric exciter and wave concentrator
Data Source
AI summary
An industrial printhead (100) comprising a flow channel enclosed in a chamber, wherein the flow channel (102) has at least one fluid inlet (102a) and at least one fluid outlet (102b), wherein the flow channel is resonated, in use, by a vibration distributor (104) comprising a mass resonator (103), piezoelectric exciter (108) and wave concentrator (110) arranged in an axial configuration.