Liquid Ejection Carriage Cooling Layout for Vibration-Safe Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
In liquid ejection devices with a carriage accommodating a head and a board case, the proximity of a cooling mechanism to the head can lead to reduced ejection accuracy due to vibrations and interference with electrical signals.
Innovation Solution
A configuration with a first fan in the board case and a second fan above it, sending airflow into the carriage, with the board unit connected via a board-to-board connector, ensures greater airflow into the carriage, maintaining signal quality and ejection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a cooling mechanism such as a fan is provided inside the board case, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the distance between the cooling mechanism and the head is reduced causing vibration to reach the head and reducing ejection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling function is segmented into two independent fan systems: a first fan inside the board case for local cooling of the board unit, and a second fan in the carriage for overall carriage cooling. This segmentation allows each fan to operate at optimal distances from the head, preventing vibration transmission while maintaining effective cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling approach transitions from a single vertical dimension (one fan in the board case) to a multi-dimensional arrangement with fans positioned in both the board case and the carriage. This spatial distribution creates multiple cooling zones at different distances from the head, allowing effective cooling without excessive proximity to the sensitive ejection components.
2Reliability
If the board unit and the head are connected via a board-to-board connector, then signal quality is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection function is extracted from a cable-based system and replaced with a direct board-to-board connector interface. This extraction eliminates the need for flexible cables or wiring harnesses between the board unit and head, reducing mechanical complexity while improving signal integrity through a rigid, stable electrical connection.
3Temperature
If the amount of airflow into the carriage is increased, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the vibration from the fan may increase and affect the head
Solution Approach 1:
The airflow generation function is segmented between two fans operating at different locations and scales. The second fan in the carriage provides high-volume airflow for overall cooling without being positioned close to the head, while the first fan in the board case provides localized cooling with lower airflow volume. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high total cooling effectiveness without concentrating all airflow near the sensitive head components.
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 suppresses vibration-induced reductions in cooling capacity and signal quality, while effectively cooling the carriage without deteriorating ejection accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a first fan fixed to the board case and configured to send airflow into the board case
Implementation Method 2
a second fan that is fixed to the carriage above the first fan and that sends airflow taken in from outside the carriage into the carriage
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection device 1 includes a head 101 for ejecting liquid, a board case 120 for housing a board unit 123 for driving the head 101, a first fan 121 fixed to the board case 120 and for sending airflow into the board case 120, a carriage 100 for housing therein the head 101 and the board case 120, and a second fan 102 for sending airflow taken from outside the carriage 100 into the carriage 100, wherein the board unit 123 is connected to the head 101 via a board-to-board connector 130, and the amount of airflow sent into the carriage 100 by the second fan 102 is larger than the amount of airflow sent into the board case 120 by the first fan 121.