Liquid Ejection Head Adhesive Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid ejection heads face challenges in preventing adhesive flow into small channels, leading to clogging, particularly in the third individual channels connected to the second common channels, due to the design of channel configurations and adhesive application methods.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates extension parts and dummy channels to redirect and trap adhesive flow, reducing the likelihood of clogging by creating non-connection regions and using half etching techniques to manage adhesive distribution and channel dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If adhesive is applied to bond plates in the channel member, then the plates are securely joined together, but adhesive flows into the small channels causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The channel member is divided into multiple separate plates that are bonded together through adhesive. This segmentation allows the adhesive to be applied at specific bonding surfaces while the channel interiors remain protected. The partition walls are formed by these segmented plates, creating isolated channel spaces that prevent adhesive intrusion into the fluid flow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
Connection parts with larger cross-sectional areas serve as intermediaries between the partition walls and the outer frame. These connection parts act as buffer zones that intercept and contain adhesive material, preventing it from flowing into the smaller individual channels and common channels where it would cause clogging.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the channel member is configured with multiple through grooves to form common channels, then liquid circulation is enabled, but island-shaped portions drop out before stacking
Solution Approach 1:
Connection parts serve as intermediary structures that physically link the island-shaped portions (formed by through grooves) to the outer frame. These connection parts act as bridges that prevent the island portions from detaching during handling and assembly, while still allowing the through grooves to function as common channels for liquid circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection parts are designed to be formed simultaneously with the through grooves during the plate manufacturing process, before the stacking and assembly stage. This preliminary formation of connection parts ensures that the island-shaped portions are pre-secured to the outer frame, eliminating the risk of dropout during subsequent assembly operations.
3Productivity
If the third individual channels are connected to the second common channels, then liquid supply is optimized, but adhesive flow into these channels causes clogging
Solution Approach 1:
Connection parts with larger cross-sectional areas are positioned at the interfaces where third individual channels connect to second common channels. These connection parts serve as intermediary zones that capture and contain adhesive material, preventing it from flowing into the narrower third individual channels where it would cause clogging, while still maintaining efficient liquid supply through the connected channels.
4Strength
If connection parts are made thinner than the plate to connect island-shaped portions, then the island portions are secured, but adhesive can still flow into channels
Solution Approach 1:
The connection parts exhibit local quality variation: they have smaller cross-sectional areas in regions where structural connection is needed, and larger cross-sectional areas in regions where adhesive interception is required. This localized variation in dimensions allows the connection parts to simultaneously provide mechanical support and act as adhesive barriers, preventing flow into channels while maintaining structural integrity.
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 effectively suppresses adhesive flow into critical channels, minimizing clogging and ensuring stable operation of the liquid ejection head by redirecting adhesive flow into dummy channels or trapping it with capillary forces.
Implementation Method 1
trapping it with capillary forces
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A first channel member of a liquid ejection head includes a plurality of plates stacked through an adhesive. A first plate includes a second groove configuring the second common channel, and a plurality of first grooves which are communicated with the second groove from a wall surface of the second groove and individually configure a plurality of third individual channels. A second plate is bonded to a top surface of the first plate and configures an upper surface of the second common channel. The first plate includes an extension part which extends outward from the wall surface of the second groove between an end part position of one end of the second groove and a connection position closest to the end part position among connection positions of the plurality of first grooves with respect to the wall surface of the second groove.