Liquid Ejecting Head Supply Unit Geometry for High-Viscosity Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid ejecting heads struggle with stability when ejecting liquids with viscosities higher than general ink, leading to flight deflection and shortage of ejection amount due to structural imbalances between pressure chambers and ink supply paths.
Innovation Solution
A liquid ejecting method and apparatus where the liquid ejecting head includes nozzles, a pressure chamber, and a supply unit with specific cross-sectional area and channel length ratios, ensuring the cross-sectional area of the supply unit is between ⅓ and equal to the pressure chamber's area, and the channel length of the pressure chamber is equal to or more than the supply unit's length but less than twice that, stabilizing the ejection of high-viscosity liquids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an existing liquid ejecting head structure is used, then the ejection of liquids with viscosity close to water is stable, but the ejection of liquids with higher viscosity becomes unstable with flight deflection and shortage of ejection amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the liquid ejecting head, specifically setting the cross-sectional area of the supply unit to between 1/3 and 1 times the cross-sectional area of the pressure chamber, and the channel length of the pressure chamber to be equal to or more than the supply unit but less than twice the supply unit length. These parameter adjustments optimize the head structure for high-viscosity liquid ejection while maintaining stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the cross-sectional area of the supply unit is too small relative to the pressure chamber, then the liquid flow control is improved, but the ejection amount becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the cross-sectional area ratio between the supply unit and pressure chamber to be within 1/3 to 1, and the channel length ratio to be between 1 and 2 times. This parameter optimization ensures both precise liquid flow control and sufficient ejection amount for high-viscosity liquids.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the channel length of the pressure chamber is too long, then the liquid flow stability is improved, but the residual vibration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent limits the channel length of the pressure chamber to be equal to or more than the supply unit but less than twice the supply unit length. This constraint on the length parameter reduces residual vibration while maintaining liquid flow stability during high-viscosity liquid ejection.
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 properly adjusts liquid flow in the supply unit, stabilizes the ejection of high-viscosity liquids, suppresses residual vibration, and ensures consistent ink supply to the pressure chamber, achieving stable ejection of about 10 ng per droplet with minimal deviation.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a liquid ejecting method, comprising ejecting a liquid from a liquid ejecting head, wherein: the viscosity of the liquid is in a range from 6 mPa·s to 15 mPa·s, the liquid ejecting head includes: nozzles which eject the liquid; a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles; and a supply unit which communicates with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, the cross-sectional area of the supply unit is in a range from ⅓ of the cross-sectional area of the pressure chamber to the cross-sectional area of the pressure chamber, and the channel length of the pressure chamber is equal to or more than the channel length of the supply unit and is equal to or less than twice of the channel length of the supply unit.