Closing Valve for Liquid Ejecting Apparatus Bubble Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting technologies face challenges in preventing liquid leaks and bubble mixing during the filling process, as the discharge of air and bubbles from the liquid ejecting head can lead to leakage and contamination of the common liquid chamber.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting apparatus with a closing valve that is biased to close the discharge route, which opens only when the liquid pressure-feeding mechanism feeds the liquid, and an exhaust unit with a gas permeable membrane to manage air discharge, reducing the likelihood of liquid leaks and bubble mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bubble outlet is disposed in the ceiling surface of the common liquid chamber to discharge gases, then air and bubbles can be discharged from the liquid ejecting head, but liquid may leak through the bubble outlet or bubbles may be mixed in the common liquid chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge route is segmented into two separate outlets: a bubble outlet for gas discharge and a liquid outlet for liquid discharge. This segmentation allows independent control of gas and liquid discharge paths, preventing liquid from entering the bubble outlet while ensuring effective air and bubble removal from the liquid ejecting head
Solution Approach 2:
A closing valve is introduced as an intermediary component in the bubble outlet path. This valve acts as a mediator that selectively opens to allow gas discharge during filling operations and closes to prevent liquid leakage and bubble mixing during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between effective gas discharge and prevention of harmful liquid/bubble contamination
2Productivity
If the discharge route is kept open to efficiently fill the internal flow path with liquid, then filling efficiency is improved, but bubbles may be mixed with liquid or liquid may leak via the discharge route
Solution Approach 1:
The closing valve is designed to dynamically change its state between open and closed positions based on operational requirements. During filling operations, the valve opens to allow efficient liquid discharge; during normal operation, the valve closes to prevent bubble mixing and liquid leakage. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between filling efficiency and operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The closing valve operates periodically, opening during filling cycles and closing during ejection cycles. This periodic action ensures that the discharge route is open only when needed for filling, thereby maintaining high filling efficiency while preventing harmful effects during normal operation
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 efficiently fills the liquid ejecting unit with liquid while minimizing the risk of leaks and bubble contamination, ensuring reliable operation and reducing the amount of liquid required for filling.
Implementation Method 1
The closing valve has a moving object that is biased to close the discharge route, and the moving object is movable, due to an external force, to an opening position at which the discharge route is opened
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust unit with a gas permeable membrane to manage air discharge
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects a liquid supplied to an internal flow path; a pump that feeds the liquid to the liquid ejecting unit; a discharge route that communicates with the internal flow path; and a closing valve disposed in the discharge route. The closing valve has an object that is biased to close the discharge route, and the object open the discharge route, due to an external force, during feeding of the liquid by the pump.