Damper Unit With Flexible Membrane and One-Way Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses face challenges in maintaining stable pressure variations in the liquid supply path, leading to disturbances in liquid ejection, as the pressure variations generated are not fully absorbed by the deformable resin film used in the ink inlet path.
Innovation Solution
A damper unit is introduced, comprising a flexible membrane with rubber elasticity, a gas chamber, and a one-way valve, which functions to store liquid and absorb pressure variations by allowing gas communication with the outside while restricting gas flow, thereby stabilizing the pressure in the liquid supply path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flexible resin film is used to form the ink inlet path, then the pressure variation in the liquid is partially suppressed, but the pressure variation cannot be fully suppressed when it exceeds the absorption range of the resin film deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The damper chamber is divided into a liquid storage region and a gas storage region by a partition wall, with the flexible membrane forming only part of the chamber wall. This segmentation allows the liquid and gas to be separately managed while working together to suppress pressure variations.
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible membrane with rubber elasticity is introduced as an intermediary between the liquid and gas chambers. This membrane deforms in response to pressure changes, allowing gas to flow through the communication portion while restricting direct mixing between liquid and gas.
2Reliability
If a one-way valve is provided in the communication portion, then gas can flow into the gas chamber from the outside while restricting gas flow from the gas chamber to the outside, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve automatically controls gas flow direction based on pressure differential without external control. When pressure inside the gas chamber exceeds outside pressure, the valve closes to prevent gas escape. When outside pressure exceeds inside pressure, the valve opens to allow gas entry, maintaining pressure balance automatically.
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 damper unit effectively suppresses pressure variations in the liquid supply path, ensuring stable liquid ejection by utilizing the flexible membrane and gas chamber to manage pressure changes, enhancing the reliability of the liquid ejecting apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a damper chamber (61) which has a wall partially composed of a flexible membrane (64) with a rubber elasticity and which is configured to store a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a one-way valve provided in the communication portion to allow a gas to flow into the gas chamber from the outside of the damper unit and to restrict a gas to flow from the gas chamber to an outside thereof
Implementation Method 3
a gas chamber partitioned from the damper chamber by the flexible membrane
Data Source
AI summary
A damper unit includes a damper chamber which has a wall partially composed of a flexible membrane with a rubber elasticity and which is configured to store a liquid; a gas chamber partitioned from the damper chamber by the flexible membrane; a communication portion provided for the gas chamber so that the gas chamber is in communication with an outside of the damper unit; and a one-way valve provided in the communication portion to allow a gas to flow into the gas chamber from the outside of the damper unit and to restrict a gas to flow from the gas chamber to an outside thereof.