Defoaming Chamber Air Bubble Integration for Inkjet Printer Degassing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting apparatuses, such as ink jet printers, face inefficiencies in degassing air bubbles from ink due to dispersed gas in the ink, leading to printing failures like dot missing, as the degassing efficiency deteriorates when gas is located far from the gas permeable film in the defoaming chamber.
Innovation Solution
A liquid supply apparatus with a defoaming chamber and a depressurization chamber separated by a partition wall, where the partition allows gas permeation while restricting liquid permeation, and an air bubble integrating portion collects air bubbles, enhancing the efficiency of air bubble removal by pressure difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas permeable film is used as partition wall for degassing, then gas can be removed from liquid, but degassing efficiency deteriorates when gas is dispersed and located far from the film
Solution Approach 1:
The degassing chamber is divided into multiple regions: a gas collection chamber where dispersed gas bubbles accumulate, and a degassing chamber where the gas permeable film is located. This segmentation allows gas to be collected in one region before being transferred to the degassing region, solving the problem of inefficient degassing when gas is dispersed throughout the liquid.
Solution Approach 2:
A gas collection chamber acts as an intermediary between the liquid supply and the gas permeable film. This intermediate chamber collects dispersed gas bubbles from the liquid flow and concentrates them near the film, facilitating more efficient degassing without requiring the film to be in direct contact with all gas bubbles throughout the liquid.
2Reliability
If partition wall allows gas permeation, then gas can pass to depressurization chamber, but liquid may also permeate causing supply issues
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall is designed with non-uniform properties: the lower portion has high liquid repellency to prevent liquid permeation, while the upper portion allows gas permeation for degassing. This local differentiation of properties enables selective permeation - gas can pass through the upper region while liquid is blocked by the lower region, achieving both effective gas removal and liquid retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall's surface properties are changed spatially - the lower portion is treated to have high liquid repellency (changing the wetting parameter), while the upper portion maintains gas permeability. This parameter change creates selective permeation characteristics that allow gas to pass while preventing liquid loss.
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 solution efficiently collects and removes air bubbles from the defoaming chamber to the depressurization chamber, improving degassing efficiency and preventing printing failures by ensuring effective air bubble removal through the partition's gas permeability and liquid repellency.
Implementation Method 1
the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid
Implementation Method 2
a chamber (depressurizing chamber) depressurized using a pump is provided to oppose the common liquid chamber with the gas permeable film interposed therebetween. In addition, the inside of the chamber is depressurized by the pump, a pressure difference between the common liquid chamber and the chamber is generated
Implementation Method 3
an air bubble integrating portion which collects the air bubbles included in the liquid is provided in the defoaming chamber
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid supply apparatus including a liquid supply path which supplies a liquid from an upstream side, which is a liquid supply source, to a downstream side in which the liquid is consumed; a defoaming chamber which is provided in the liquid supply path and defoams air bubbles included in the liquid; and a depressurization chamber which is provided at a position adjacent to the defoaming chamber with a partition wall interposed therebetween and is depressurized such that the pressure thereof becomes lower than the pressure of the defoaming chamber, wherein the partition wall allows permeation of gas by the depressurization of the depressurization chamber and restricts permeation of the liquid, and wherein an air bubble integrating portion which collects the air bubbles included in the liquid is provided in the defoaming chamber.