Concentric Inlet-Outlet Jet Stack for High Packing Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current inkjet print head designs are limited by serial flow paths, which restrict the packing density of jets due to separate inlet and outlet fluid elements requiring significant space, hindering the achievement of higher resolution and increased throughput.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a parallel flow architecture where the ink inlet and outlet paths share the same fluid element, reducing the space required for each jet element and allowing for a higher packing density by integrating the inlet and outlet ports within the same channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a serial flow path is used with separate inlet and outlet fluid elements for each jet, then the ink flow path is simple and reliable, but the packing density of jets is limited due to the space required for separate fluid elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the inlet and outlet fluid elements into a single shared fluid element that serves multiple jets. This consolidation reduces the space required per jet while maintaining reliable ink flow through the shared element, thereby increasing packing density without sacrificing flow path reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The shared fluid element performs multiple functions by serving as both the inlet and outlet for multiple jets simultaneously. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated inlet and outlet elements for each jet, freeing up space to accommodate more jets within the same footprint
2Manufacturing precision
If separate discrete fluid elements are used for inlet and outlet paths, then the ink flow control is precise, but the space required per jet increases, limiting the number of jets that can be packed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate discrete fluid elements into a shared fluid element that handles both inlet and outlet flows for multiple jets. This merging reduces the total area occupied per jet while maintaining precise ink flow control through the shared element's design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent reconfigures the fluid path geometry to allow inlet and outlet flows to coexist within the same fluid element by utilizing different spatial dimensions or pathways within the element, effectively reducing the footprint while preserving flow control precision
Data Source
AI summary
A jet stack has a set of plates forming an array of body chambers, the set of plates including a nozzle plate having an array of jets wherein each jet corresponds to a body chamber, each body chamber having an inlet to allow fluid to flow into the body chamber and an outlet to allow fluid to flow out of the body chamber, the outlet fluidically coupled to a jet in the array of jets, wherein the inlet and outlets are concentric.