Liquid Ejecting Head Crosstalk Reduction via Chamber Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ink jet recording apparatuses, crosstalk occurs due to pressure wave propagation between pressure generating chambers, leading to unstable liquid droplet ejection, which is exacerbated by increased volumes of common liquid and circulation flow channels intended to reduce compliance, resulting in larger head sizes.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting head design with a first common liquid chamber having larger compliance than a second common liquid chamber, and flow channel resistance between the first coupling portion and pressure chamber being smaller than between the second coupling portion and pressure chamber, to absorb pressure wave vibrations and reduce residual vibration propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the volumes of the common liquid chamber and the circulation flow channel are increased to improve compliance, then crosstalk is reduced, but the size of the liquid ejecting head increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common liquid chamber is divided into two separate chambers: a first common liquid chamber coupled to the pressure chamber and a second common liquid chamber coupled to the circulation flow channel. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized independently for compliance without increasing the overall head size, as the pressure wave absorption function is localized to the first chamber while the second chamber maintains compact dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The first common liquid chamber is designed with larger compliance specifically at the location where pressure waves are generated, while the second common liquid chamber maintains smaller compliance. This local differentiation of compliance properties allows effective crosstalk reduction without requiring uniform volume increases throughout the entire liquid delivery system.
2Reliability
If the compliance of the common liquid chamber is improved to reduce pressure wave propagation, then liquid droplet ejection stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common liquid chamber is segmented into two distinct chambers with different compliance characteristics, allowing each to perform specific functions: the first chamber absorbs pressure waves to stabilize ejection, while the second chamber manages circulation flow. This segmentation achieves stability improvement without requiring complex compliance control mechanisms in a single chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the compliance parameter of the first common liquid chamber to be larger than that of the second common liquid chamber. This parameter differentiation provides a simple yet effective means to reduce pressure wave propagation and improve ejection stability without introducing complex active control systems or variable compliance mechanisms.
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
This configuration reduces crosstalk by absorbing pressure wave vibrations in the first common liquid chamber and minimizing liquid inflow into the second common liquid chamber, allowing for a more compact head design without increasing the second common liquid chamber's compliance.
Implementation Method 1
a compliance of the first common liquid chamber is larger than a compliance of the second common liquid chamber
Implementation Method 2
a flow channel resistance between a first coupling portion with the first common liquid chamber and the pressure chamber is smaller than a flow channel resistance between a second coupling portion with the second common liquid chamber and the pressure chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid ejecting head includes: a flow channel forming substrate that forms an individual flow channel including a nozzle and a pressure chamber, a first common liquid chamber, and a second common liquid chamber; and a pressure generating element that causes a pressure change in a liquid in the pressure chamber, in which the first common liquid chamber is coupled to the second common liquid chamber via the individual flow channel, a compliance of the first common liquid chamber is larger than a compliance of the second common liquid chamber, and in the individual flow channel, a flow channel resistance between a first coupling portion with the first common liquid chamber and the pressure chamber is smaller than a flow channel resistance between a second coupling portion with the second common liquid chamber and the pressure chamber.