Liquid Ejection Head with Crossed Supply and Collection Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejection apparatuses, such as those described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2011-098491, suffer from low ink circulation efficiency at the nozzles, leading to ink thickening and deterioration in ejection performance.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejection head design with supply and collection channels that extend in a direction crossing the main scanning and ejection directions, incorporating a circulation unit with pressure adjustment units to maintain ink flow and prevent thickening, utilizing a piezoelectric diaphragm pump for efficient ink circulation within the head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pumps and tubes are used for ink circulation, then ink circulation is achieved, but apparatus size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ink circulation function directly into the ejection head by integrating supply channels, collection channels, and a circulation pump within the head structure. This eliminates the need for external pumps and tubes, reducing apparatus complexity while maintaining reliable ink circulation through the ejection ports.
Solution Approach 2:
The circulation pump is nested within the ejection head structure, with supply channels and collection channels forming nested pathways for ink flow. The pump chamber is integrated into the head body, creating a compact nested arrangement that achieves circulation without external components.
2Device complexity
If ink circulation path is simplified, then apparatus cost and size are reduced, but ink circulation efficiency may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing separate supply channels and collection channels with optimized pathways tailored to specific ejection port regions. The channels are configured with appropriate dimensions and orientations to ensure efficient ink circulation locally at each ejection port, preventing thickening while maintaining a simplified overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply channels and collection channels extend in directions crossing both the main scanning direction and the ejection direction, utilizing three-dimensional spatial arrangement to optimize ink flow paths. This multi-directional channel configuration enhances circulation efficiency without requiring complex external circulation systems.
3Productivity
If channels extend in directions crossing main scanning and ejection directions, then ink circulation efficiency is improved, but channel design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel configuration is designed to dynamically adapt to the ejection head's movement and operation. The channels extend in multiple directions to accommodate the scanning motion while maintaining optimal ink flow paths, allowing the system to maintain high circulation efficiency throughout the dynamic printing process without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms.
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 design enhances ink circulation efficiency, maintains fluidity at ejection ports, reduces apparatus size and cost, and simplifies the scanning mechanism by minimizing tube connections and external pump requirements.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a piezoelectric diaphragm pump for efficient ink circulation within the head
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus, which are capable of preventing deterioration in ink circulation efficiency in the vicinities of ejection ports, includes a common supply channel and a common collection channel as separate channels. Ink supplied from the common supply channel is supplied to pressure chambers through supply connection channels, and collected from the pressure chambers into the common collection channel through collection connection channels. Also, the common supply channel and the common collection channel extend in a direction crossing a main scanning direction in which the liquid ejection head is scanned and the ejection direction of the liquid.