Liquid Discharge Head Buffer Spaces for Meniscus Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ink jet printers experience meniscus vibration issues in discharge ports, leading to print failures at high ink flow rates due to inertial forces and bubble flow to discharge ports, which existing buffer systems fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A liquid discharge head design featuring a channel member with recesses covered by a covering portion to form spaces acting as buffers, positioned near the connection between the supply path and channels, which absorb liquid vibration and prevent bubble flow to discharge ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If buffer chambers are placed at a large distance from discharge ports to attenuate meniscus vibration, then meniscus vibration is reduced, but the buffer effect becomes insufficient at high ink flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the buffer function into multiple small buffer chambers distributed along the ink supply path rather than using a single distant buffer chamber. This segmentation allows each buffer chamber to be positioned close to discharge ports while collectively providing sufficient vibration attenuation across all nozzles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates local buffer zones at specific positions along the ink supply path where meniscus vibration is most problematic. Each buffer chamber is strategically placed to address local vibration issues near specific discharge ports, providing targeted vibration reduction without requiring distant placement.
2Reliability
If dummy channels are used as buffers close to discharge ports, then meniscus vibration is reduced at normal flow rates, but bubbles flow to discharge ports at high ink flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the buffer chambers with dynamic characteristics that allow them to function effectively at different flow rates. The buffer chamber dimensions and positioning are optimized to provide vibration attenuation at normal flow rates while preventing bubble accumulation and flow to discharge ports even at high ink flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multiple small buffer chambers that replicate the buffering function rather than relying on a single dummy channel. This distributed buffering approach provides the same vibration attenuation effect as dummy channels but prevents bubble flow to discharge ports by distributing the buffer function across multiple locations.
3Productivity
If multiple nozzles are densely arrayed to increase productivity, then ink discharge volume increases, but meniscus vibration increases due to inertial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ink supply system into multiple zones with individual buffer chambers for each nozzle or small group of nozzles. This segmentation allows each nozzle to have its own localized vibration control mechanism, enabling dense nozzle arrangement while maintaining meniscus stability through distributed buffering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces buffer chambers as intermediary elements between the ink supply source and the discharge ports. These buffer chambers act as mediators that absorb inertial forces generated by high-speed ink discharge from multiple nozzles, preventing meniscus vibration while maintaining high productivity.
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
Stably reduces or eliminates meniscus vibration in discharge ports even at high ink flow rates, maintaining print quality by effectively buffering liquid vibrations and preventing bubble interference with ink discharge.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of spaces 55, which are formed by covering part of recesses of the channel member 41 with a covering portion 57
Implementation Method 2
the spaces 55 each include an opening 56 communicating with the at least one channel 53... absorb liquid vibration
Implementation Method 3
The liquid tank, which is a liquid supply source, is generally configured to maintain negative pressure to prevent the liquid from dripping off the supply ports
Implementation Method 4
when liquid discharge from a plurality of discharge ports is stopped at once, the inertial force of the liquid to move forward increases
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid discharge head includes a channel member and a recording element substrate. The channel member includes a discharge port configured to discharge liquid and at least one channel configured to supply the liquid to the discharge port. The recording element substrate includes a supply path and an energy generating element. The supply path connects to the at least one channel with a connection and is configured to supply the liquid to the at least one channel. The energy generating element is configured to discharge the liquid from the discharge port. The channel member further includes, at positions of the channel member facing the connection, a plurality of spaces, the spaces being formed by covering part of recesses of the channel member with a covering portion, the spaces each including an opening communicating with the at least one channel.