Droplet Ejecting Apparatus Adhesive Thickness Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ink-jet recording apparatuses face challenges in accurately measuring the thickness of the adhesive layer between the head unit and the reinforcing plate due to variations in plate member thickness and potential warping of the reinforcing plate, leading to inaccuracies in droplet ejection and cross-talk suppression.
Innovation Solution
A droplet ejecting apparatus with a measuring section that includes a non-adhesive area for estimating the adhesive layer thickness, using through holes in the head unit or reinforcing plate to measure distances perpendicular to the surfaces, allowing for accurate determination of the adhesive layer thickness independent of plate member variations and warping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the adhesive layer thickness is measured using conventional methods (measuring distance from reference position to reinforcing plate surface), then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to plate member thickness variations and warping
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from the adhesive layer itself by creating a through-hole that allows direct optical access to the adhesive layer thickness. This enables measurement without being affected by the reinforcing plate surface warping or plate member thickness variations, as the measurement is taken through the through-hole rather than from the external plate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The through-hole acts as an intermediary structure that facilitates accurate measurement of the adhesive layer thickness. By providing a direct path through the head unit or reinforcing plate, it mediates between the measurement device and the adhesive layer, eliminating the interference caused by plate warping and thickness variations.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the reinforcing plate is made wider to enhance rigidity and prevent cross-talk, then the structural stability improves, but the warping of the reinforcing plate end portion increases due to applied pressure during adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the measurement function from the adhesive layer itself by creating a through-hole that allows direct optical access to the adhesive layer thickness. This enables measurement without being affected by the reinforcing plate surface warping or plate member thickness variations, as the measurement is taken through the through-hole rather than from the external plate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-adhesive area is prepared in advance during the adhesive sheet formation process, creating a predetermined region where no adhesive is applied. This preliminary action allows for future thickness measurement without requiring additional modifications to the structure, and ensures that the measurement area is ready before assembly.
3Measurement precision
If a non-adhesive area is created in the adhesive sheet for measurement, then the thickness measurement becomes accurate, but the manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The non-adhesive area is prepared in advance during the adhesive sheet formation process, creating a predetermined region where no adhesive is applied. This preliminary action allows for future thickness measurement without requiring additional modifications to the structure, and ensures that the measurement area is ready before assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive sheet has different properties in different regions: the majority area has adhesive properties for bonding, while the non-adhesive area has no adhesive properties to allow measurement. This local differentiation of quality enables both strong bonding where needed and accurate measurement where required.
Data Source
AI summary
A droplet ejecting apparatus, including: a head unit including (a) a cavity unit constituted by plate members stacked on and adhered to each other, having a first and a second outer surface respectively defined by a first and a second outermost plate member of the plate members which are opposite to each other and one of which has nozzles, and having liquid flow channels formed therein and respectively communicating with the nozzles, and (b) an actuator attached to the cavity unit and operable such that the head unit ejects droplets through the nozzles, a holder holding the head unit, a reinforcing plate adhered to the cavity unit so that the holder holds the head unit, an adhesive layer between the first outer surface and a first surface of the reinforcing plate as one of opposite surfaces thereof so as to adhere the cavity unit and the reinforcing plate to each other, and having a non-adhesive area in which no adhesive exists, and a measuring section configured such that a measurement for estimating a thickness of the adhesive layer by using the non-adhesive area is performed therein.