Dual-Stage Heating for Liquid Ejection Viscosity Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid ejection devices face challenges in efficiently applying high-quality curable compositions due to excessive heating, which degrades the composition, and insufficient heating, which results in low flowability and difficulty in ejection, especially when the target temperature is above room temperature.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejection device with a dual heating system, where a first heating means heats the curable composition in a tank and a second heating means further heats it as it passes through a channel, maintaining a temperature difference of 30°C or less between the lowest ejection temperature and the second heating means, ensuring efficient and stable ejection without excessive heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a single heating means is used to heat the curable composition in a short time, then the heating speed is improved, but the curable composition is excessively heated and degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating speedVSAvoidcomposition degradation
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is divided into two separate heating means: a first heating means for initial heating and a second heating means for final temperature adjustment. This segmentation allows the composition to be heated in stages, preventing excessive heating and degradation while achieving the target temperature efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first heating means performs preliminary heating of the curable composition to a temperature close to the target temperature, and then the second heating means completes the temperature adjustment. This preliminary action reduces the burden on the second heating means and prevents excessive heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the heating temperature is set near the ejection temperature, then the composition quality is preserved, but the heating time becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition degradationVSAvoidheating time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is segmented into two phases: rapid initial heating by the first heating means, and precise final temperature adjustment by the second heating means. This allows the system to achieve the target temperature quickly while maintaining composition quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating temperature parameters are optimized: the first heating means operates at a higher temperature for rapid heating, while the second heating means operates at a lower temperature difference (30°C or less) to precisely achieve the target temperature without excessive heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the heating temperature difference is large, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the composition properties are changed and quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidcomposition quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is segmented into two stages with different temperature differences: the first heating means uses a large temperature difference for efficient heating, while the second heating means uses a small temperature difference (30°C or less) to maintain composition quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The temperature parameters are changed in two stages: initial high-temperature heating for efficiency, followed by low-temperature difference heating for quality preservation. This parameter change strategy optimizes both heating efficiency and composition quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables the curable composition to be heated to a suitable viscosity for efficient ejection in a short time, preventing degradation and ensuring high-quality application without overheating, thus improving production efficiency and precision.

Implementation Method 1

a first heating means for heating the liquid composition retained within the first tank

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a second heating means for heating the liquid composition passing through the first channel at a heating temperature higher than that of the first heating means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3202501B1Liquid ejection device
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3202501B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3202501B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3202501B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided a liquid ejection device capable of applying a high quality curable composition stably and efficiently by heating the curable composition to a temperature at which the curable composition can be ejected from a head, in a short time without heating the curable composition rapidly and excessively. This liquid ejection device (1) is provided with: a first tank (2) for retaining a liquid composition; a head (3) for ejecting the liquid composition; a first heating means (4) for heating the liquid composition within the first tank (2); a first channel (5) for supplying the liquid composition from the first tank (2) to the head (3); a second heating means (6) for heating the liquid composition passing through the first channel (5) at a heating temperature higher than that of the first heating means (4); a second channel (7) for returning the liquid composition from the head (3) to the first tank (2) ; a second pump (8) that is provided on the first channel (5) ; and a first pump (9) that is provided on the second channel (7), wherein the temperature difference between the heating temperature of the second heating means (6) and the heating temperature of the first heating means (4) is 65°C or less.