Liquid Ejecting Head Filter Layout for Clog Prevention and Bonding

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid ejecting heads face challenges in ensuring sufficient bonding strength between flow path members due to small filter holes that prevent nozzle clogging, leading to potential issues with adhesion and flow path integrity.

Innovation Solution

A liquid ejecting head design featuring a filter member with a first region containing smaller holes for filtering and a second region with larger holes for adhesive bonding, ensuring both effective filtration and strong adhesion between flow path members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the filter hole size is made smaller to prevent nozzle clogging, then the nozzle clogging prevention is improved, but the bonding strength between flow path member and head unit deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle clogging preventionVSAvoidbonding strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is divided into two distinct regions: a filter region with smaller holes for preventing nozzle clogging, and a fixed region with larger holes for ensuring bonding strength. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the filter member are given different hole sizes according to their specific functional requirements. The filter region has smaller holes localized where filtration is needed, while the fixed region has larger holes localized where bonding is needed, achieving local optimization of structure and function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the filter hole size is made smaller to prevent nozzle clogging, then the nozzle clogging prevention is improved, but the bonding area becomes small leading to insufficient adhesion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle clogging preventionVSAvoidbonding area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is divided into two distinct regions: a filter region with smaller holes for preventing nozzle clogging, and a fixed region with larger holes for ensuring bonding strength. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the filter member are given different hole sizes according to their specific functional requirements. The filter region has smaller holes localized where filtration is needed, while the fixed region has larger holes localized where bonding is needed, achieving local optimization of structure and function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the filter holes are made smaller to prevent nozzle clogging, then the filtration effectiveness is improved, but the flow path resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiltration effectivenessVSAvoidflow path resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The filter member is divided into two distinct regions: a filter region with smaller holes for preventing nozzle clogging, and a fixed region with larger holes for ensuring bonding strength. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filter member serves multiple functions through its two-region design: it provides filtration through the filter region, ensures structural bonding through the fixed region, and maintains adequate flow paths through the larger holes in the fixed region, achieving multi-functionality in a single component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12533889B2Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A liquid ejecting head includes: a first-flow-path-member having a first-surface in which a first-opening is formed; a second-flow-path-member having a second-surface in which a second-opening is formed; and a filter member disposed between the first-surface and the second-surface, in which the second-opening is larger than the first-opening in plan view, the filter member has a first-region in which first holes are provided, and a second-region positioned around the first-region and in which second holes are provided in plan view, the first-region includes a filter region which partitions off the first-opening and the second-opening and through which liquid passes, the second-region is in contact with both the first-surface and the second-surface, and includes a first-fixed-region to which an adhesive adheres, and an area of each of the second-holes is larger than an area of each of the first-holes in plan view.