Liquid Discharge Head Positioning Structure for Stable Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid discharge heads face challenges in maintaining accurate positioning and stable mounting on liquid discharge apparatuses, which can lead to a decrease in recording quality, especially when replacing or mounting on different types of apparatuses.

Innovation Solution

A liquid discharge head design that includes a reference member with a spherical positioning portion and conical positioning member, along with a support unit and fixing members, allows for precise alignment and stable attachment, reducing translational degrees of freedom and ensuring consistent recording quality across various apparatus configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a liquid discharge head is designed to be easily replaceable and detachable, then ease of operation is improved, but positioning accuracy and mounting stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacementVSAvoidpositioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

A positioning member with a positioning portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the liquid discharge head and the liquid discharge apparatus. The positioning portion on the head interacts with a corresponding positioning structure on the apparatus to establish precise alignment. This mediator enables both easy replacement and high positioning accuracy by providing a dedicated mechanical interface for alignment during the attachment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If a liquid discharge head is designed to be easily detachable for replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but mounting stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacementVSAvoidmounting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into distinct functional elements: a positioning member for alignment, a fixing member for securing, and a pressing member for final stabilization. This segmentation allows the head to be easily attached and detached while ensuring stable mounting through the coordinated action of multiple specialized components rather than a single complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Measurement precision

If positioning structures are added to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning member serves multiple functions: it provides positioning accuracy through its positioning portion, facilitates easy attachment through its interaction with the fixing member, and ensures mounting stability through coordination with the pressing member. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity while achieving high positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4667221A1Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 CANON KK
  • EP4667221A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4667221A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4667221A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A liquid discharge head includes a discharge element substrate including a discharge port array formed along a first direction, a support member configured to support the discharge element substrate, and a reference member configured to position the discharge element substrate with respect to a predetermined portion, wherein the reference member includes at least three reference members, wherein the support member includes, as a pressed portion configured to receive a force for pressing the predetermined portion, at least three pressed portions, and wherein a triangle formed by connecting reference points defined by the three reference members has a center of gravity inside a triangle formed by connecting the three pressed portions.