Detachable Liquid Circulation Unit for Inkjet Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional droplet jet coating apparatuses face issues with complex pipe arrangements, high ink and cleaning liquid losses, and operational inefficiencies due to the need for frequent shutdowns and manual ink exchange, leading to increased running costs and reduced operational availability.
Innovation Solution
A detachable liquid circulation unit with a simplified pipe arrangement, including a cartridge design with a small discharge tank, deaeration unit, pump, filter, diaphragm valve, and mass flow controller, allows for offline ink exchange and circulation, reducing ink loss and enabling continuous operation by minimizing pressure fluctuations and maintaining line balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex pipe arrangement with multiple buffer tanks is used to suppress pressure fluctuations, then jet failure is reduced, but device complexity increases and ink loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid circulation system is divided into two independent circulation routes: a first circulation route that circulates liquid during jetting operations, and a second circulation route that circulates liquid when the jetting unit is not in use. This segmentation allows each route to be optimized independently, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable jetting performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid circulation pump performs circulation in advance during non-jetting periods to prevent sedimentation of materials in the liquid. By circulating the liquid before jetting operations begin, the system ensures that materials remain suspended and evenly distributed, preventing jet failure without requiring complex buffer tanks during actual jetting.
2Reliability
If manual ink exchange is performed frequently to prevent sedimentation, then jet failure is reduced, but loss of time increases and operational availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid circulation pump operates continuously or periodically to circulate liquid through the system, ensuring that materials remain suspended and evenly distributed throughout the liquid. This continuous circulation eliminates the need for frequent manual ink exchange operations, maintaining jetting reliability while maximizing operational availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-circulation of the liquid through the jetting unit and return path, automatically preventing sedimentation without requiring manual intervention. The circulation pump and valve system work together to maintain liquid homogeneity, allowing the system to service itself and eliminate downtime for manual ink exchange.
3Ease of operation
If a detachable liquid circulation unit is used to simplify ink exchange, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid circulation pump, valves, and associated components are integrated into a single detachable circulation unit that can be removed and replaced as a complete assembly. This merging of components simplifies ink exchange operations, as the entire circulation system can be quickly swapped out without manual disassembly, while the internal complexity is contained within the modular unit.
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 enables easy ink exchange and reduction in ink usage, simplifies the operation process, reduces ink and cleaning liquid losses, and improves operational availability by allowing continuous jetting and maintaining line balance between processes.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid sending pump to send the liquid to an outside from the first liquid storage unit
Implementation Method 2
a pipe arrangement for deaeration to remove a dissolved gas in the liquid sent from the liquid sending pump
Implementation Method 3
a filter to remove an impurity in the liquid sent from the liquid sending pump
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid circulation unit adapted to be provided in a liquid circulation apparatus to circulate a liquid, including, a first liquid storage unit to store the liquid, a sensor to detect a fluid level of the liquid stored in the first liquid storage unit, a liquid sending pump to send the liquid to an outside from the first liquid storage unit based on a detection result of the sensor, a pipe arrangement for deaeration to remove a dissolved gas in the liquid sent from the liquid sending pump, a filter to remove an impurity in the liquid sent from the liquid sending pump, a diaphragm valve which opens when the liquid is sent to the outside from the first liquid storage unit, and a cock valve which opens when the liquid is sent to the first liquid storage unit from the outside, wherein the liquid circulation unit is adapted to be provided so as to be detachable to or from the liquid circulation apparatus.